The Celestial Church of Christ, Acts of Apostle Parish, Ketu, Alapere, Lagos, has been plunged into turmoil following a dramatic fallout over a N5 million donation meant for renovation and construction of a clergy house.
The incident has led to the closure of the church for 40 days by its governing authorities, stirring shockwaves among members.
The chaos unfolded during a recent Sunday service when an alleged son of the church’s founder, Muyiwa Oluponna, stormed the pulpit, interrupting the acting shepherd, Adetayo Adetola, who was delivering a sermon.
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According to Adetola, Oluponna demanded that the donation, made by the church headquarters, be handed over to the Oluponna family, claiming ownership of the church. “That Sunday, our shepherd was not around, and I was in charge. Suddenly, Oluponna seized the microphone from me, asserting that the N5 million belonged to his family. He even demanded to be made the church’s shepherd and to deliver sermons every second Sunday of the month,” Adetola recounted.
Adetola further alleged that when the congregation resisted Oluponna’s attempt to take control, he grabbed another microphone from a chorister and returned to the pulpit, causing further disruption. “The entire church was stunned. It was a moment of utter chaos,” he added.
The parish shepherd, Emmanuel Iperepolu, accused Oluponna of consistently stirring conflict in the church. “Before the issue of the N5 million arose, he had been threatening and abusing me and other members. But his behavior became worse after he learned about the donation,” Iperepolu said.
The incident, which was captured in a now-viral video, shows Oluponna engaging in heated arguments with church members.
The shepherd has since reported the matter to both church authorities and the police, citing ongoing threats from Oluponna.
In response to the tension, the church’s task force, led by Akinbode Adjovi, shut down the parish for 40 days to prevent further violence.
Kayode Ajala, Head of Media and Publicity for the Celestial Church of Christ, confirmed the closure, describing it as a measure to restore order.
“The church is a sacred place, but when lives are being threatened, we must act. The authorities are working to resolve the conflict and ensure peace. Once the investigation is complete, the church will be reopened,” Ajala stated.
While church authorities and members have blamed the N5 million donation for sparking the conflict, Oluponna has refused to comment on the allegations, stating that the matter is strictly between his family and the church.
The dramatic turn of events has left church members and onlookers stunned. Many are now waiting to see how the crisis will be resolved and whether the Acts of Apostle Parish will return to its former peace.
For now, the church doors remain locked.
