Two Pastors Clash Over Multi-Million Naira Church Property

A fresh dispute has erupted within the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria as two pastors, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha and Rev. Isaac Nnaji, engaged in a bitter confrontation over control of a valuable church property located at 35 Nanka Street, New Haven, Enugu.

The disagreement, which has now drawn police attention, centres on who has the rightful authority to manage the multi-million-naira property.

Rev. Nnaji, recently deployed to the New Haven District headquarters, reportedly insists that his new position automatically places the property under his supervision.

However, Rev. Obioha, who has overseen the property since 2021, argues that he remains the legitimate custodian based on a Power of Attorney granted to him by the Incorporated Trustees of the church.

The Power of Attorney, issued in August 2021 and signed by former General Superintendent Rev. Ejikeme Ejim, former General Treasurer Rev. Vincent Alaje and current General Secretary Rev. Godwin Amaowoh, authorised Obioha to “take possession, administer, manage and superintend” the property on behalf of the national church.

The document also empowered him to collect rents, issue quit notices and carry out all actions required for effective administration.

Trouble escalated on 30 October 2025 when Obioha visited the premises to collect rent from a tenant.

Instead of completing the process, he claimed he was confronted by a group led by Rev. Nnaji, who ordered him to stay away from the property.

In a petition to the Commissioner of Police titled “Threat to Life and Malicious Damages”, Obioha stated that when he questioned the confrontation, “they enveloped me for the purpose of assaulting me before passers-by intervened to rescue me.”

He said the shouting match caused a traffic gridlock as bystanders gathered at the scene.

According to him, the group retreated after issuing a frightening warning: “If they ever see me again on the property, it will only be my dead body that will be seen.”

He described the incident as traumatising and accused Nnaji’s supporters of acting with “impunity,” appealing to the police to prevent further hostilities.

A police source confirmed that the Crack Squad of the Enugu State Police Command has launched an investigation.

Obioha was questioned on Monday, while Nnaji was summoned for interrogation on Tuesday following orders from the Commissioner.

When contacted, Rev. Nnaji declined to comment, stating, “The case is before the police. I will not talk about it now.”

However, the General Secretary of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Godwin Amaowoh, firmly insisted that Nnaji has no authority over the property.

He accused the district superintendent of working with “unscrupulous elements” to reignite internal conflict within the church.

“The property belongs to the Assemblies of God,” Amaowoh said. “Okechukwu was given a valid Power of Attorney to represent the church. It is unfortunate that we are still experiencing this kind of internal sabotage despite the Supreme Court judgment of 2017.”

He further accused Nnaji of “resorting to thuggery in the name of being District Superintendent,” and vowed that the national leadership would repossess all church properties allegedly held back during pr