Cleric Faces Allegations of Property Forgery and Church Fund Diversion in Transatlantic Dispute

A Nigerian clergywoman and founder of Heaven's Gateway Ministries, Apostle Chikere Nwafor, has been accused by her former husband of forging property documents, diverting church funds, and making threats in a dispute spanning properties in Lagos and London. The allegations were made in an interview with SaharaReporters by Martin Ugbulu, who claims he was defrauded of jointly-owned assets after their marriage ended.

The accusations include the alleged diversion of approximately £100,000 in church deposits into personal accounts and the forging of property documents for a jointly-built house in Lagos's Amen Estate. The matter has reportedly led to police involvement in Nigeria and legal action over alleged human rights violations.

Background and Context

The dispute centers on properties acquired during Martin and Apostle Nwafor's marriage, including church buildings in London and residential real estate in Lagos. According to Martin's account to SaharaReporters, the couple built Heaven's Gateway Ministries in London together, with Martin handling mortgage arrangements and property management. The relationship deteriorated as church membership declined, leading to attempts to sell the London property and a subsequent relocation focus to Nigeria.

The allegations emerge amid broader concerns about financial transparency in religious organizations, particularly those operating across international jurisdictions with different regulatory frameworks for charities and religious institutions.

Key Figures and Entities

Apostle Chikere Nwafor is described as the founder of Heaven's Gateway Ministries, with operations in both London and Lagos. The UK Charity Commission maintains public records of registered charities, though the specific registration of Heaven's Gateway Ministries was not verified in the provided information.

Martin Ugbulu, identified as Nwafor's former husband, claims to have funded both church and residential properties during their marriage. He states that he discovered the alleged document forgery when returning to Nigeria in November 2024 after undergoing prostate cancer treatment.

Other entities mentioned include the Church of God Mission, which allegedly paid a £50,000 holding deposit for the London church property, and Winners Chapel in London, whose pastor reportedly facilitated another potential buyer. The Bexley Council planning department was involved in permitting discussions for the London property's religious use.

Legal and Financial Mechanisms

The alleged financial improprieties include claims that approximately £100,000 in holding deposits from two separate potential church buyers were diverted into personal accounts rather than being held in trust or the charity's account. Under UK charity law, such funds typically require proper accounting and safeguarding procedures.

The property dispute in Lagos allegedly involves forged documents created through a surveyor who charged ₦1.2 million to amend records at Alausa, the location of Lagos State government offices. Martin claims these documents were later discovered to be fraudulent, with his name removed from the property title for their jointly-built residence in Amen Estate.

The matter has reportedly led to a fundamental human rights suit filed against both the cleric and Nigerian police authorities, though specific court documents were not provided in the source material.

International Implications and Policy Response

The case highlights challenges in cross-border asset recovery and financial oversight when religious organizations operate across multiple jurisdictions. The alleged diversion of charitable funds through personal banking channels underscores potential gaps in anti-money laundering regulations for religious entities.

Property registration systems in Nigeria have faced criticism for vulnerabilities to forgery and fraud, prompting discussions about reforms to increase transparency and reduce title manipulation. The Lagos State Government has previously announced digitization efforts for land registry services, though implementation challenges remain.

The involvement of Nigerian police authorities in what Martin describes as harassment through baseless criminal charges raises concerns about the use of law enforcement resources in civil disputes. Nigeria's human rights framework provides protections against arbitrary arrest and malicious prosecution, though enforcement remains inconsistent.

Sources

This report draws primarily on an interview with Martin Ugbulu conducted by SaharaReporters. Attempts to obtain comment from Apostle Chikere Nwafor were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting. Additional context was provided through public information on UK charity regulations, Lagos property registration procedures, and international standards for religious organization financial oversight.