The Crack Squad of the Enugu State Police Command has begun investigating the crisis rocking the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria over ownership and control of its property located at 35 Nanka Street, New Haven, Enugu.

Two pastors of the church, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha and Rev. Isaac Nnaji, are reportedly at loggerheads over who should manage the property. It was gathered that Nnaji was recently transferred to the district headquarters of the church in New Haven, where the property is located, and has insisted on taking over its management.

Okechukwu, however, has been managing the property since 2021 under a Power of Attorney issued to him by the Incorporated Trustees of the Assemblies of God Nigeria.

The Power of Attorney, issued in August 2021 and signed by the then General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Ejikeme Ejim; General Secretary, Rev. Godwin Amaowoh; and former General Treasurer, Rev. Vincent Alaje, authorised him to ?take possession of the said property and to administer, manage, and superintend it? on behalf of the church.

It also empowered him to ?sublet or assign, execute all instruments, demand, collect and receive payments by way of rents, fees or dues, and to sign and give notices to tenants and occupiers of the said property to quit or to repair,? among other responsibilities.

Trouble reportedly began on October 30, 2025, when Okechukwu visited the property to collect rent from one of the tenants. Instead of completing the transaction, he was allegedly accosted and threatened by some persons said to have been led by Nnaji, who warned him never to visit the property again.

In a petition to the Enugu State Commissioner of Police titled ?Threat to life and malicious damages?, Okechukwu alleged that when he confronted his attackers over their behaviour, ?they enveloped me for the purpose of assaulting me, until passers-by and other innocent persons intervened to rescue me from the dreaded force.?

He said the commotion caused by the ?unprovoked attack? led to a gridlock as more people gathered to rescue him before his attackers fled, warning that ?if they ever see me again at the property, it will only be my dead body that will be seen.?

Okechukwu said the incident had caused him ?grave psychological trauma,? adding that ?the impunity with which they threatened my life leaves much to be swallowed.? He therefore urged the Commissioner of Police to intervene to prevent further hostilities.

When contacted yesterday, Nnaji declined to comment, saying: ?The case is before the police. I will not talk about it now.? A police source, however, confirmed that Okechukwu was interviewed by the Crack Squad yesterday, while Nnaji was directed to appear today for his own interview, following the Commissioner?s referral of the petition to the unit.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Godwin Amaowoh, told The Guardian that Nnaji had no right to claim ownership of the property, clarifying that ?it is the property of the Assemblies of God, and Okechukwu has been given Power of Attorney to represent the church on the property.?

He lamented that the church had continued to face internal challenges despite the Supreme Court ruling of 2017, which settled the leadership dispute.

?It is unfortunate that we are still experiencing things like this,? he said. ?We didn?t know some unscrupulous elements in the church were out to cause a crisis, and Nnaji is one of them. The Supreme Court ruled in our favour, but the other group continued because they enjoyed the backing of the state government.

?Obioha Okechukwu was mandated and given the Power of Attorney over our property in New Haven, Enugu State. But Nnaji has decided to resort to thuggery in the name of being the District Superintendent in that area. The property belongs to the Assemblies of God, and I can assure you that we will soon recover every property belonging to us, including those taken away during the crisis,? he stated. (THE GUARDIAN)

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