Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The founder and General Overseer of the Living Christ Mission, Obiajunwa Onukogu, popularly known as Daddy Hezekiah, has been accused of sexually abusing two women when they were minors attending church programmes more than two decades ago, in allegations that have sent shockwaves through the Nigerian Christian community. The allegations were made in separate written testimonies by Kelechi Ibe, 39, and Onyekachi J. Eze, 40, who said they decided to speak publicly after years of silence. The women alleged that the incidents occurred in the 1990s when they were members of the "Princess of Daddy Hezekiah," a church group for young girls participating in programmes in Port Harcourt, Onitsha and the church headquarters in Nkwerre, Imo State. According to their accounts, parents often left after the opening days of conventions, leaving their children in the care of church officials until the events ended.
The women alleged that they were repeatedly summoned to the cleric's private quarters under the pretext of confirming whether they had remained virgins. They alleged that during such visits, they were subjected to inappropriate sexual touching while they were minors. The women further alleged that they were warned against disclosing the incidents to their parents or other members of the group. Ibe said the alleged abuse began when she was about 12 or 13 and occurred repeatedly during church conventions. She said she eventually disclosed her experience after comparing accounts with her sister, who was also a former member of the group. Eze similarly alleged that the abuse began during a church visit to Onitsha and continued after she joined the group in Port Harcourt.
The women said they later discovered similarities between their experiences and believe other former members may have had similar encounters. They identified some alleged survivors who have come forward as Nkechi Nwofor, Angela Michael, Sopuruchukwu, Nkiru Arum, Vivian Nmezi and Ihegboro Chibuzo. The women said the experiences had lasting emotional effects and that they were speaking out in the hope that others who may have had similar experiences would feel encouraged to come forward. Ibe, recounting her experience, alleged that the abuse started when she was around 12 or 13 years old and happened on multiple occasions during church conventions. She said she eventually opened up about what happened after comparing experiences with her sister, who had also been a member of the group. Eze, meanwhile, alleged that her experience began during a church visit to Onitsha before continuing after she became a member of the group in Port Harcourt.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and no court has made any finding on the claims. Efforts to obtain a response from Onukogu and Living Christ Mission were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The allegations come amid growing scrutiny of religious leaders in Nigeria, where cases of sexual abuse and exploitation within churches have increasingly come to light in recent years. The "Princess of Daddy Hezekiah" group, which the women say they belonged to, appears to have been a structured programme that gave the cleric direct access to young girls, often without parental supervision. The women's decision to speak publicly after years of silence reflects a broader global movement of survivors of institutional abuse coming forward to demand accountability and justice.
As of the time of reporting, neither Onukogu nor the Living Christ Mission had issued any official response to the allegations. The church, which has a significant following across Nigeria, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions, has not commented on the matter. The women's testimonies have been published by several news outlets, including Daily Post, Periscope International, and National Update, all of which reported on August 20, 2026. The allegations, if proven, would represent a profound betrayal of trust by a religious leader who positioned himself as a spiritual father to thousands of followers. For now, the claims remain just that – allegations – and Onukogu, like every Nigerian citizen, is presumed innocent unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise. However, the courage of the two women in speaking out after more than two decades of silence has already ignited a conversation about accountability, power and the protection of vulnerable members within religious institutions across Nigeria.
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