Two Assemblies of God Pastors Clash Over Church Property in Enugu

By: Ojay Matthew

A new leadership struggle has erupted within the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria as two senior pastors—Rev. Okechukwu Obioha and Rev. Isaac Nnaji—engage in a bitter dispute over control of a prime church property at 35 Nanka Street, New Haven, Enugu. The disagreement, now under police investigation, revolves around who holds the legitimate authority to manage the multi-million-naira asset.

Rev. Nnaji, recently posted to the New Haven District headquarters, reportedly claims that his new position automatically places the property under his supervision. However, Rev. Obioha insists he remains the lawful custodian of the building, citing a Power of Attorney issued to him in August 2021 by the Incorporated Trustees of the church. The document, signed by then–General Superintendent Rev. Ejikeme Ejim, former General Treasurer Rev. Vincent Alaje, and current General Secretary Rev. Godwin Amaowoh, empowers him to manage, collect rents and oversee all administrative matters relating to the property.

The dispute escalated on October 30, 2025, when Obioha visited the premises to collect rent from a tenant. According to his petition to the Commissioner of Police, he was confronted and allegedly assaulted by men led by Rev. Nnaji, who warned him never to return. Obioha claimed that the confrontation drew public attention and ended with threats to his life, stating that he was told he would only return to the property “as a corpse.”

The Enugu State Police Command has since taken up the matter, with its Crack Squad interviewing both pastors on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police. While Rev. Nnaji declined to comment, saying the case is now with the police, Obioha urged authorities to act swiftly to prevent further violence.

Meanwhile, the church’s General Secretary, Rev. Godwin Amaowoh, strongly defended Obioha’s position, stressing that Nnaji has no authority over the property. He described the incident as part of efforts by “unscrupulous elements” to reignite internal conflicts previously settled by a 2017 Supreme Court judgment. Amaowoh accused Nnaji of resorting to intimidation and vowed that the national leadership would recover all church assets allegedly withheld during past crises.