A Lagos-based cleric and founder of Heaven’s Gateway Ministries, Apostle Chikere Nwafor, has been accused by her ex-husband, Martin Ugbulu, of alleged forgery, financial fraud, and actions he claims have put his life in danger.
The accusations stem from a long-running dispute over church funds and jointly owned properties in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Martin alleged that the dispute escalated after the collapse of their marriage and disagreements over church finances and real estate investments they made together while married.
Alleged forgery of Lagos property documents
According to Martin, the most recent conflict involves a house they jointly built at Amen Estate, Lagos, which he says was fully funded by both of them. He claimed he only discovered in November 2024, upon returning to Nigeria, that his name was missing from the property documents.
“I trusted her completely because we were married. In marriage, one plus one is one. I had no idea she had criminal intentions to rob me of my investments in Nigeria,” he said.
Martin alleged that Apostle Chikere worked with a surveyor to forge documents that excluded him as a co-owner. When he questioned the discrepancy, she reportedly claimed ignorance and said the estate dealt solely with her during the transaction.
He further claimed that a surveyor later charged him ₦1.2 million to amend the documents, providing him with what appeared to be updated deeds bearing both names. Martin now alleges that those documents were forged.
UK Church funds and alleged financial misconduct
Beyond the Lagos property, Martin accused the cleric of diverting large sums of money from church-related transactions in the UK into her personal bank account.
He said that while they were managing Heaven’s Gateway Ministries in London, at least £100,000 was collected from two different churches interested in purchasing the ministry’s building. One of the interested buyers was Church of God Mission, founded by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa.
According to Martin, Church of God Mission paid a £50,000 holding deposit, which—due to the church’s charity status—should have been held by an agent or deposited into the church’s charity account. Instead, he alleged that Apostle Chikere pressured the agent to transfer the funds directly into her personal account.
When the sale collapsed due to mortgage issues, Martin said she insisted the entire deposit be forfeited. He claimed he personally refunded £30,000, while she refused to return the remaining balance.
A second potential buyer, introduced by a Ghanaian pastor, allegedly paid another £50,000 into her personal account. That deal also fell through due to planning permission issues, and Martin claimed no refund was made.
Rental income and alleged lack of accountability
With no buyers left, Martin said the London property was leased out instead. He alleged that Apostle Chikere falsely informed trustees that the tenants were paying £6,000 monthly, when in reality the rent was £10,000 per month, paid directly to her.
He also claimed that a second property, acquired under the remainder of a 13-year free lease, was renovated at his expense and rented out for £3,000 monthly, with all proceeds allegedly going to her alone.
Health crisis and events in Nigeria
Martin disclosed that he was diagnosed with stage-three prostate cancer, which delayed his travel to Nigeria. He alleged that during his absence, Apostle Chikere told estate officials he was terminally ill and might never return, claiming she had already settled his share of the property.
When he eventually arrived in Nigeria, he said he was shocked to discover that the house documents listed only her name.
Personal conflict and Police involvement
The dispute intensified after Martin claimed he discovered that Apostle Chikere was in a relationship with a 38-year-old man, whom he identified as Francis Samuel. He said he raised concerns privately, citing the reputational implications for a church leader.
Shortly after, Martin alleged that he was invited by the police on allegations of attempted murder and cyberbullying, charges he described as baseless and intended to intimidate him. His lawyer later filed a fundamental human rights suit against Apostle Chikere and the police.
Alleged break-in and safety concerns
Martin said he began to fear for his safety, claiming he noticed suspicious movements around his home. He alleged that Apostle Chikere later arrived with a locksmith, her boyfriend, and several men, and forcibly gained entry into the property.
“My fear is this: if I had been there, what would have happened to me?” he said. “My life is in danger.”
No response from the accused cleric
Efforts to obtain a response from Apostle Chikere Nwafor were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to her went unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
