By Eunice Orike
Members of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Wuse II, Abuja, are expressing outrage over the leadership’s failure to take action against Senior Pastor Rev. Nashon Azaki, who is accused of sexual harassment and financial misconduct.
The delay in addressing these serious allegations has led many within the congregation to question the integrity of the church, both locally and globally.
The controversy has intensified over the past few months, with members expressing frustration that the leadership continues to protect Rev. Azaki despite recommendations from an investigative committee calling for his transfer.
ECWA’s reputation is at risk, they claim, as the church’s leadership has ignored calls for action, opting instead to prioritise loyalty and nepotism.
However, the accused pastor, Rev. Nashon Azaki, has denied the allegations, stating that they are baseless and that the aggrieved members of the church are pursuing their self-interest.
The crisis began in early January 2025, when concerned church members submitted a petition to ECWA Headquarters calling for Rev. Azaki’s removal due to the accusations against him.
The petition was supported by a letter from Dr. George Ogunyomi, a legal practitioner acting on behalf of these members.
In the letter, sent on February 3rd 2025, Ogunyomi accused the pastor of breaching ECWA’s ethical guidelines and criticized the leadership for allowing him to remain in his position despite the mounting evidence of his misconduct.
Members of the church have grown increasingly impatient with the slow response, noting that the leadership’s failure to act has only made the situation worse.
The concerned members noted that ECWA’s integrity has taken a significant hit, and many now believe the leadership’s refusal to act is motivated by favoritism rather than a commitment to the values the church claims to uphold.
“The time for action is now,” said the concerned members. “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”, the members said.
Rev. Azaki, who is under investigation by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), continues to lead one of ECWA’s largest congregations while on administrative bail.
Critics have pointed out that a person facing criminal allegations of this magnitude would not be allowed to hold a position in government or public service, yet the church’s leadership has failed to remove him.
According to the Concerned Members, “the saga began on January 6th, 2025, 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, the DCC’s investigation was marred by conflicts of interest, as the committee was composed largely of Rev. Azaki’s supporters, which led to objections from the petitioning members.
When these concerns were raised, the DCC Chairman referred the matter back to the same divided board of elders, which resulted in a deadlock.
In response, some elders resigned, and others threatened to follow suit.
In an attempt to break the impasse, a meeting of about 30 members of both current and former elders proposed the formation of an independent investigative committee.
But Rev. Jonah ignored this suggestion, instead accepting a report from a faction of five elders who cleared Rev. Azaki.
The ECWA Executive then intervened, directing that Rev. Azaki be suspended and made the DCC appoint an independent committee chaired by Prof. Samson Shaibu.
The committee recommended that Rev. Azaki take a leave of absence and be transferred due to the growing tension in the church.
Additionally, the committee suggested dissolving the board of elders, citing a deep divide within the leadership.
However, Rev. Jonah defied these recommendations, reinstating Rev. Azaki without consulting ECWA Headquarters and ignoring the Executive’s directives.
Critics argue that the board of inquiry, tasked with investigating administrative matters, had no authority to clear Rev. Azaki of criminal misconduct.
The committee’s refusal to address the 13 allegations against the pastor only adds to the perception that the leadership is attempting to cover up his actions, rather than hold him accountable.
In the eyes of many ECWA members, the church’s leadership is failing to uphold its values, and the integrity of the organisation is at risk.
The time for decisive action is now, and only by addressing this crisis head-on can ECWA hope to regain its reputation and restore faith within the congregation.
