A pastor, Barkuma Andrew of United Methodist Church, Mafoluku, in the Oshodi area of Lagos was rejected and chased away by his members of the church for allegedly impregnating his housemaid. It was learnt that the pastor, was stopped from leading the church seven months ago when the housemaid, who was also a member of the church, Grace, had complications after aborting the pregnancy.


Andrew lives with his wife, children, wife’s cousin, Favour, and Grace in a three-bedroomed flat on the church premises. Punch gathered that members had petitioned the Central Conference of the church in Taraba State to investigate the alleged atrocity. They, however, sought the service of another pastor three weeks ago when the district reportedly failed to probe Andrew.

However, members had come to church around 10am for Sunday service only to see that Andrew and some “unknown” people had commenced the service. It was gathered that the development resulted in a breach of the peace as Andrew and his group were chased out of the church.

Men from the Makinde Police Division, including the DPO, were said to have intervened after the incident was reported at the station.

A member of the church and a former secretary to Andrew, Moses Sherima, said that the pastor sent his wife to her village when he impregnated Grace.

He said, "My room is opposite pastor’s apartment and I was his secretary. When he started dating that girl (Grace), I called his wife’s cousin, Favour, on the matter. She said Grace used to tell her whenever the pastor had sex with her. At a point, I had to move upstairs when I could no longer bear it. The day that abortion happened, I was sleeping inside my room when I heard Grace screaming. I rushed there and saw blood coming out from her private parts. When the wife came back from one of her numerous journeys, he told her to send Favour away."