NAPTIP probes ECWA clergy over alleged sexual assault 

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has commenced investigation of allegation of sexual assault against the senior pastor of Evangelical Church Winning All ( ECWA) Wuse II, Rev Nashon Azaki. 

The senior clergyman was alleged to have suddenly turned to a sexual predator, harassing female staff members of the church, with the intent of taking undue advantage of them to exploit them sexually.

NAPTIP Public Relations Officer of Vincent Adekoye, yesterday confirmed that the agency had received a petition from some concerned members of the church over the sexual assault.

While he refused to mention the personality accused of sexual assault in the petition, he however said that all the parties involved have been invited for interrogation and the agency has vowed to carry on unfettered investigation.

Adekoye noted that “a petition was written to the Agency on an allegation against somebody in ECWA church. All parties in the matter were invited for interrogation and further investigation continues ”

Recall that a legal practitioner,  Dr George Ogunyomi, of O.E.B Offiong and Co Chambers, Abuja, acting on the instruction of some concerned members of the church, has also petitioned ECWA Headquarters, demanding that Rev Nashon Azaki be removed from ECWA Wuse II over the alleged sexual assault.

In a petition dated 3rd February, 2025 and addressed to the General Secretary,  the ECWA Executive, Jos, the lawyer alleged that the embattled clergyman has violated ECWA’s extant rules by sitting tight as a presiding pastor of the church,  after been found wanting with overwhelming evidence of sexual misconduct.

Some of the Concerned Members of the church who are insisting that biblical moral standards must be maintained in the church, urged NAPTIP to live up to its mandate and ensure that the embattled pastor faces the full weight of the law.

According to the petition they submitted to NAPTIP, they said the agency’s quick intervention was most needed, as a measure to protect female congregants of the church against a sexual predator and other unforseen vulnerable situation that usually accompany sexual exploitation.

While the members expressed disappointment over the abysmal handling of the matter by the overseeing leaders of ECWA in Abuja, in collaboration with some elders of the church, the petitioners have vowed to fight on, until sanity is restored to the congregation.

They said: “To make things more baffling, the Garki District Church Council Chairman who went to the church last Sunday  to announce that Rev Azaki has been cleared of the sexual assault allegations without any investigation would not follow him to defend him.

“Also, the five elders out of eleven who are his  supporters are not willing to go with him to face the law as they are not sure how the case will end as it is now out in the public.

“Additional information indicated that some former elders who had counseled him to step aside to give room for independent investigation in accordance with the ECWA bye-laws have suddenly become the enemies of the pastor and his cronies. Pastor Azaki is alleged to be using the church aparatus to curry favour and  intimidate perceived enemies to avoid independent inquiries on this matter”.