Did a Pastor Use Police and Courts to Silence a Worker? Ex-Husband’s Shocking Claims Against Apostle Chikere Nwafor | Fintter
Can a religious leader allegedly use the police and the courts to keep a poor church worker behind bars—and get away with it?
A disturbing set of allegations has emerged against Apostle Chikere Nwafor, founder of Heaven’s Gateway Ministries in Lagos, after her ex-husband, Mr. Martin Ogbulu, accused her of orchestrating the arrest, prosecution, and continued imprisonment of a longtime church caretaker, Mr. Alfred Morris Oyawari.
According to Ogbulu, Alfred—who had overseen the church’s building projects, houses, and properties since 2018—has been languishing in Ikoyi Prison since April 2025 over allegations of missing building materials. The ex-husband insists the accusations were fabricated and driven by fear that Alfred might later sue the cleric for wrongful treatment.
A Caretaker, Not a Criminal?
Ogbulu describes Alfred as a loyal, humble worker who managed church construction and supervised contractors for years, often while both he and Apostle Chikere were outside Nigeria during the COVID-19 period. Despite the heavy responsibility placed on him, Alfred reportedly earned only ₦40,000 per month.
He even volunteered to live alone on the church’s three-acre property in Ibeju-Lekki, near Amen Estate—an isolated area where no one else was willing to stay. From there, he acted as caretaker, site supervisor, and the main link between the church leadership and contractors.
So how did such a worker end up in prison?
“She Said She Had Locked Him Up”
Ogbulu claims that in April 2025, Apostle Chikere informed him that Alfred had been arrested because some items allegedly went missing from the construction site. Even if there had been an issue, he questioned the moral basis of criminal prosecution by a religious leader.
> “Even if it was him, what are you preaching? Are you not preaching forgiveness?” he asked.
“You bundled a man who looked after your building from 2018 to 2025, locked him up, and took him to court.”
Since then, Alfred’s case has reportedly been repeatedly adjourned, leaving him stuck in detention.
Alleged Police Pressure and a Chilling Condition
In one of the most troubling claims, Ogbulu alleged that the police demanded that Alfred’s relatives sign an undertaking promising that Alfred would never sue Apostle Chikere for wrongful detention as a condition for his release.
According to him, the Investigating Police Officer handling the case allegedly said that “madam” was giving instructions, and that Alfred’s family must agree not to take legal action if he were freed.
Ogbulu says he agreed in desperation—because Alfred is poor and has no means to fight the system.
“He Calls Her From Prison, Begging for Mercy”
Ogbulu revealed that Alfred occasionally gets access to a phone in prison and uses it to beg Apostle Chikere for forgiveness, calling her “Mummy” and pleading to be released.
> “Seeing Alfred in prison breaks my heart,” he said.
“This young man has begged her countless times, even from inside prison.”
He further described Alfred’s family as extremely poor, saying his father—a retired security officer from a riverine community—lacks the resources to pursue legal action.
Pattern of Abuse or Isolated Case?
Beyond Alfred’s ordeal, Ogbulu alleged a broader pattern of intimidation within the church, recounting incidents in which members were allegedly humiliated or physically confronted, only to later be appeased with money.
He warned that Alfred’s case might be one of many involving vulnerable Nigerians who allegedly fall victim to abuse of power within religious and law-enforcement structures.
> “Can you imagine how many other people are languishing in jail that nobody knows about?”
Silence From Those Accused
When contacted for a response, Apostle Chikere Nwafor reportedly said she would “get back,” but did not. Attempts to reach the police officer allegedly in charge of the case were also unsuccessful.
This leaves the public with unsettling questions about justice, power, and accountability in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
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Questions for Fintter Readers
Can a religious leader legally influence police and courts this way?
Should clerics be held to a higher moral and legal standard?
If these claims are true, what does it say about justice for the poor in Nigeria?
How many similar cases go unnoticed because victims lack money or influence?
Join the conversation on Fintter:
Is this a case of religious authority abusing state power—or is there another side to the story we are not being told?
Can a religious leader allegedly use the police and the courts to keep a poor church worker behind bars—and get away with it?
A disturbing set of allegations has emerged against Apostle Chikere Nwafor, founder of Heaven’s Gateway Ministries in Lagos, after her ex-husband, Mr. Martin Ogbulu, accused her of orchestrating the arrest, prosecution, and continued imprisonment of a longtime church caretaker, Mr. Alfred Morris Oyawari.
According to Ogbulu, Alfred—who had overseen the church’s building projects, houses, and properties since 2018—has been languishing in Ikoyi Prison since April 2025 over allegations of missing building materials. The ex-husband insists the accusations were fabricated and driven by fear that Alfred might later sue the cleric for wrongful treatment.
A Caretaker, Not a Criminal?
Ogbulu describes Alfred as a loyal, humble worker who managed church construction and supervised contractors for years, often while both he and Apostle Chikere were outside Nigeria during the COVID-19 period. Despite the heavy responsibility placed on him, Alfred reportedly earned only ₦40,000 per month.
He even volunteered to live alone on the church’s three-acre property in Ibeju-Lekki, near Amen Estate—an isolated area where no one else was willing to stay. From there, he acted as caretaker, site supervisor, and the main link between the church leadership and contractors.
So how did such a worker end up in prison?
“She Said She Had Locked Him Up”
Ogbulu claims that in April 2025, Apostle Chikere informed him that Alfred had been arrested because some items allegedly went missing from the construction site. Even if there had been an issue, he questioned the moral basis of criminal prosecution by a religious leader.
> “Even if it was him, what are you preaching? Are you not preaching forgiveness?” he asked.
“You bundled a man who looked after your building from 2018 to 2025, locked him up, and took him to court.”
Since then, Alfred’s case has reportedly been repeatedly adjourned, leaving him stuck in detention.
Alleged Police Pressure and a Chilling Condition
In one of the most troubling claims, Ogbulu alleged that the police demanded that Alfred’s relatives sign an undertaking promising that Alfred would never sue Apostle Chikere for wrongful detention as a condition for his release.
According to him, the Investigating Police Officer handling the case allegedly said that “madam” was giving instructions, and that Alfred’s family must agree not to take legal action if he were freed.
Ogbulu says he agreed in desperation—because Alfred is poor and has no means to fight the system.
“He Calls Her From Prison, Begging for Mercy”
Ogbulu revealed that Alfred occasionally gets access to a phone in prison and uses it to beg Apostle Chikere for forgiveness, calling her “Mummy” and pleading to be released.
> “Seeing Alfred in prison breaks my heart,” he said.
“This young man has begged her countless times, even from inside prison.”
He further described Alfred’s family as extremely poor, saying his father—a retired security officer from a riverine community—lacks the resources to pursue legal action.
Pattern of Abuse or Isolated Case?
Beyond Alfred’s ordeal, Ogbulu alleged a broader pattern of intimidation within the church, recounting incidents in which members were allegedly humiliated or physically confronted, only to later be appeased with money.
He warned that Alfred’s case might be one of many involving vulnerable Nigerians who allegedly fall victim to abuse of power within religious and law-enforcement structures.
> “Can you imagine how many other people are languishing in jail that nobody knows about?”
Silence From Those Accused
When contacted for a response, Apostle Chikere Nwafor reportedly said she would “get back,” but did not. Attempts to reach the police officer allegedly in charge of the case were also unsuccessful.
This leaves the public with unsettling questions about justice, power, and accountability in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
---
Questions for Fintter Readers
Can a religious leader legally influence police and courts this way?
Should clerics be held to a higher moral and legal standard?
If these claims are true, what does it say about justice for the poor in Nigeria?
How many similar cases go unnoticed because victims lack money or influence?
Join the conversation on Fintter:
Is this a case of religious authority abusing state power—or is there another side to the story we are not being told?
Did a Pastor Use Police and Courts to Silence a Worker? Ex-Husband’s Shocking Claims Against Apostle Chikere Nwafor | Fintter
Can a religious leader allegedly use the police and the courts to keep a poor church worker behind bars—and get away with it?
A disturbing set of allegations has emerged against Apostle Chikere Nwafor, founder of Heaven’s Gateway Ministries in Lagos, after her ex-husband, Mr. Martin Ogbulu, accused her of orchestrating the arrest, prosecution, and continued imprisonment of a longtime church caretaker, Mr. Alfred Morris Oyawari.
According to Ogbulu, Alfred—who had overseen the church’s building projects, houses, and properties since 2018—has been languishing in Ikoyi Prison since April 2025 over allegations of missing building materials. The ex-husband insists the accusations were fabricated and driven by fear that Alfred might later sue the cleric for wrongful treatment.
A Caretaker, Not a Criminal?
Ogbulu describes Alfred as a loyal, humble worker who managed church construction and supervised contractors for years, often while both he and Apostle Chikere were outside Nigeria during the COVID-19 period. Despite the heavy responsibility placed on him, Alfred reportedly earned only ₦40,000 per month.
He even volunteered to live alone on the church’s three-acre property in Ibeju-Lekki, near Amen Estate—an isolated area where no one else was willing to stay. From there, he acted as caretaker, site supervisor, and the main link between the church leadership and contractors.
So how did such a worker end up in prison?
“She Said She Had Locked Him Up”
Ogbulu claims that in April 2025, Apostle Chikere informed him that Alfred had been arrested because some items allegedly went missing from the construction site. Even if there had been an issue, he questioned the moral basis of criminal prosecution by a religious leader.
> “Even if it was him, what are you preaching? Are you not preaching forgiveness?” he asked.
“You bundled a man who looked after your building from 2018 to 2025, locked him up, and took him to court.”
Since then, Alfred’s case has reportedly been repeatedly adjourned, leaving him stuck in detention.
Alleged Police Pressure and a Chilling Condition
In one of the most troubling claims, Ogbulu alleged that the police demanded that Alfred’s relatives sign an undertaking promising that Alfred would never sue Apostle Chikere for wrongful detention as a condition for his release.
According to him, the Investigating Police Officer handling the case allegedly said that “madam” was giving instructions, and that Alfred’s family must agree not to take legal action if he were freed.
Ogbulu says he agreed in desperation—because Alfred is poor and has no means to fight the system.
“He Calls Her From Prison, Begging for Mercy”
Ogbulu revealed that Alfred occasionally gets access to a phone in prison and uses it to beg Apostle Chikere for forgiveness, calling her “Mummy” and pleading to be released.
> “Seeing Alfred in prison breaks my heart,” he said.
“This young man has begged her countless times, even from inside prison.”
He further described Alfred’s family as extremely poor, saying his father—a retired security officer from a riverine community—lacks the resources to pursue legal action.
Pattern of Abuse or Isolated Case?
Beyond Alfred’s ordeal, Ogbulu alleged a broader pattern of intimidation within the church, recounting incidents in which members were allegedly humiliated or physically confronted, only to later be appeased with money.
He warned that Alfred’s case might be one of many involving vulnerable Nigerians who allegedly fall victim to abuse of power within religious and law-enforcement structures.
> “Can you imagine how many other people are languishing in jail that nobody knows about?”
Silence From Those Accused
When contacted for a response, Apostle Chikere Nwafor reportedly said she would “get back,” but did not. Attempts to reach the police officer allegedly in charge of the case were also unsuccessful.
This leaves the public with unsettling questions about justice, power, and accountability in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
---
💬 Questions for Fintter Readers
Can a religious leader legally influence police and courts this way?
Should clerics be held to a higher moral and legal standard?
If these claims are true, what does it say about justice for the poor in Nigeria?
How many similar cases go unnoticed because victims lack money or influence?
👉 Join the conversation on Fintter:
Is this a case of religious authority abusing state power—or is there another side to the story we are not being told?
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