By Sarah NEGEDU
The leadership of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, is facing mounting scrutiny over its handling of serious allegations against one of its senior clergy, Reverend Nashon Azaki, who is being accused of sexual harassment and financial misconduct.
Despite pressure from members of the ECWA Wuse II congregation in Abuja, the church’s leadership has yet to take definitive disciplinary action.
This inaction, critics say, has cast a shadow over ECWA’s institutional integrity and raised questions about the denomination’s commitment to its professed ethical standards.
The controversy, which began in January 2025, escalated after a group of concerned members filed a formal petition to ECWA Headquarters demanding Rev. Azaki’s removal.
Accompanying the petition was a letter dated February 3, 2025, authored by Dr. George Ogunyomi, a legal practitioner representing the aggrieved members.
Ogunyomi alleged that the pastor had violated ECWA’s ethical guidelines and condemned the church leadership for failing to act decisively in the face of what he described as mounting evidence.
Many members now accuse the ECWA leadership of shielding Rev. Azaki due to internal loyalties and political alignments, rather than confronting the allegations transparently.
According to the concerned members, “The time for action is now. The ECWA Executive must rise to the occasion, reaffirm its commitment to its principles, and take decisive action to resolve this crisis. Only then can ECWA maintain its mission and global reputation.”
Compounding the outrage is the fact that Rev. Azaki remains at the helm of one of ECWA’s largest congregations, even while reportedly under investigation by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and currently on administrative bail.
They argue that no individual facing such serious allegations would be permitted to continue in public office, yet ECWA leadership has failed to act.
The concerned members explained that, “when a petition was filed with ECWA Headquarters, asking for Rev. Azaki’s transfer. The Garki District Church Council (DCC), under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Sampson Jonah, initially asked an unqualified board of elders to investigate the allegations. The board cleared Azaki of 13 of the 14 charges, without consulting the parties involved, and referred the sexual harassment allegation to the DCC for further investigation.”
However, that subsequent investigation quickly became mired in controversy. The committee tasked with the inquiry was largely composed of allies of the accused pastor, prompting widespread objections from the petitioning members. As dissent mounted, the DCC chairman referred the matter back to the same embattled board of elders, leading to a deadlock that saw several elders resign in protest.
In an effort to find a resolution, a group of approximately 30 current and former elders proposed the formation of an independent committee. Yet, Rev. Jonah declined the proposal, opting instead to accept a report from a faction of five elders who exonerated Rev. Azaki.
Eventually, the ECWA Executive stepped in, directing that the pastor be suspended and instructing the DCC to form an independent committee led by Prof. Samson Shaibu. That panel recommended that Rev. Azaki take a leave of absence and be reassigned to another church due to the heightened tensions within the Wuse II congregation. The committee also called for the dissolution of the divided board of elders.
Despite these recommendations, Rev. Jonah reinstated Rev. Azaki unilaterally, without approval from ECWA Headquarters and in direct defiance of Executive directives.
Critics argue that the local board of inquiry had no jurisdiction to clear Rev. Azaki of criminal misconduct. Furthermore, its failure to address the 13 outstanding allegations has deepened the perception of a deliberate attempt by church leadership to suppress the matter rather than ensure accountability.
Meanwhile, Rev. Nashon Azaki has consistently denied the allegations, insisting they are unfounded and politically motivated. He maintains that those pressing for his removal are acting out of personal interest rather than genuine concern for the church’s wellbeing.
