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The Congregation of Yahweh, Lagos, has denied allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, maltreatment and other forms of misconduct levelled against its leadership and members by some former members of the church.
The congregation, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Assembly, Apst. Yehudah Nnedu, described the allegations as “false, malicious and unfounded,” insisting that the issues raised by the former members should be subjected to proper investigation rather than determined through social media publications.
The statement followed an interview circulated on YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms in which four former members of the congregation — Diuto Okwuonu, Ugomma Okwuonu, Amara Okwuonu and Susana Okwuonu — alongside their mother, Naomi Okwuonu, made allegations against the church, its General Overseer, members of her family and other members of the congregation.
The church said it was particularly concerned that the allegations were being circulated while a petition involving the parties was still under investigation by the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.
According to the congregation, it does not trivialise allegations of sexual misconduct, particularly where a child is involved, but maintained that the seriousness of an allegation should not be interpreted as proof of guilt.
“The Congregation of Yahweh categorically denies all allegations as false, malicious and unfounded,” the statement said.
On an allegation by Diuto Okwuonu of attempted sexual harassment and beating, the church said no member of its leadership had ever sexually harassed, made sexual advances towards or beaten her.
It described the allegation as fabricated, saying no such incident had previously been reported either within the church or to law enforcement authorities before the recent media campaign.
Responding to Ugomma Okwuonu’s allegation that she and two other sisters were sexually abused and “passed from one brother to another”, the church described the claim as “grievous, incestuous and highly defamatory.”
The congregation maintained that no male member of the church had any sexual relationship with Ugomma, adding that Brother Emmanuel was only betrothed to Susana Okwuonu.
It further alleged that the narrative was aimed at damaging Emmanuel’s marriage, faith and reputation, while insisting that its moral standards did not permit or institutionalise sexual misconduct.
On Amara Okwuonu’s allegation that the church’s General Overseer maltreated her and terminated her university education in Ghana following the annulment of her marriage, the congregation denied the claim.
It said the decision concerning her scholarship was not punitive but a collective family and institutional decision influenced by available resources, concerns over academic conduct and moral standards, as well as conditions attached to the institutional support.
The church also disputed allegations concerning Susana Okwuonu, whom it identified as the former wife of Brother Emmanuel.
According to the congregation, Susana allegedly left her matrimonial home and child for more than two years before returning to seek custody.
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The church, however, stressed that the welfare and best interests of the child should remain paramount.
On the allegation involving Mrs Naomi Okwuonu’s employment with Union Bank, the congregation denied directing her to leave the bank.
It said her disengagement occurred during a period when the bank was undertaking staff rationalisation and downsizing, adding that decisions she subsequently made regarding her employment and pension benefits were personal decisions.
The congregation also accused the former members and their mother of engaging in what it described as continuous “false commentaries, insults, name-calling and videos” against the church, its General Overseer and her family.
It alleged that the activities had created tension within the community and claimed that one of the former members had been seen around the family residence with unidentified persons.
The church said the matter had been reported to the Festac Police Division, adding that it had preserved the allegedly defamatory videos, publications and social media posts for possible legal proceedings.
The Congregation of Yahweh also drew attention to what it described as years of assistance provided to the Okwuonu family.
It listed free accommodation, feeding and basic necessities, educational expenses, medical care and other welfare support among the assistance allegedly provided to the family.
It also claimed that the church facilitated an all-expenses-paid pilgrimage or trip to Israel for the family’s father.
The congregation said the history of assistance had been omitted from the allegations being circulated against it.
It maintained that members were free to leave the church but argued that departure should not be used as a basis for what it described as rewriting the history of the relationship between the family and the congregation.
The church said it had briefed its lawyers and was taking steps to protect the reputation and rights of its leadership and members.
It said it would consider appropriate civil and criminal legal action against persons responsible for what it described as false publications, as well as facilitators, publishers or platforms that continued to disseminate unverified allegations.
The congregation also called on all parties to preserve recordings, publications, social media posts and other materials relating to the allegations, saying they could become relevant evidence.
