Mount Zion Lighthouse Church disowns founder’s family claims over Trusteeship, suspends Elders

Following what it described as an alleged attempt to hijack its administration and manipulate records at the Corporate Affairs Commission, The Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church Inc. has disowned claims by the family of its late founder over the church’s trusteeship, suspended two elders, and barred non-members from further interference.

The church, in a press release signed by its Mission General Secretary, Apostle Dr. Ekpe Effiong, said its Council under the Chairmanship of the Mission’s President/Registered Trustee, His Grace Arch Bishop N. D. Ayakndue JP, reached the decision at a meeting held on Friday, January 2, 2026, to address what it called “activities of some misguided persons who are currently circulating false and misleading information on the issue of trusteeship of the church to distract and misinform the members of the Church and general public.”

According to the Council, “His Grace, Arch Bishop Ayakndue, is the only surviving Registered Trustee of the Mission having been so registered since 1992,” stressing that all actions taken by the church followed its constitution and the law.

It explained that vacancies in the Board of Trustees arose after the demise of other trustees and that steps were taken in 2022 to fill the positions through an election conducted in line with the Mission’s constitution.

The church noted that the process was challenged at the Federal High Court, Uyo, in Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/71/2022, leading to an interlocutory order on July 14, 2022, restraining further action on trusteeship pending the determination of the suit.

However, it said judgment was delivered on November 24, 2025, in favour of the defendants, vacating the injunctive order, with the court holding that it was “of utmost important to ensure that the vacancy (in the Board of Trustee of the Church) be filled as soon as practicable.”

The Council said it swiftly complied by conducting an election on November 29, 2025, at the church’s International Headquarters, where four trustees-elect emerged for subsequent registration with the CAC.

Trouble resurfaced on December 23, 2025, during a Ministers’ Conference, when, according to the statement, “some non-members of the Church” disrupted proceedings and claimed that the family of the late founder had amended the church’s constitution and appointed new “Trustees” without authorization.

“On 23rd December 2025, during the Ministers’ Conference held at the International Headquarters of the Church, some non-members of the Church, led by Elder Marshall Ime Udo of Apapa Assembly, Lagos and Elder Emmanuel Bassey Edoho of Ikot Ebiyan Assembly, Eket, without any authorization by the leadership of the Church, disrupted the proceedings of the Conference and announced to the Ministers present that the family of the Late founder-Late Bishop J. E. Etefia had without the authority or permission of the Mission, carried out transactions with the CAC on behalf of the Mission, amended the Mission’s Constitution, appointed new “Trustees” for the Church and have caused the said “Trustees” to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.” The statement reads

The Council also cited several public notices and a newspaper publication titled “Founder’s Family sets New Direction for The Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church,” which it described as “misleading and contemptuous.”

Rejecting the claims, the Council stated that “the Church has never, at any time of its existence, been a property of any of its founders’ family,” adding that some individuals named in the notices “are not members of The Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church and do not have any legal relationship with the Church.”

It further distanced itself from what it called “the Criminal, fraudulent and contemptuous activities of those individuals who took the fraudulent steps to undermine the integrity of the Church and disregard the Order of Court.”

As part of its resolutions, the church announced the immediate suspension and excommunication of Elder Marshall Ime Udo and Elder Emmanuel Bassey Edoho, barred named non-members from further interference, and directed affected members to submit sworn affidavits of renunciation within seven days, urging “Members of the Church, Corporate Affairs Commission, relevant Agencies of Government and the general public” to be guided.

“On 2nd January, 2026 during the Mission’s Council meeting, the President/Registered Trustee, His Grace Arch Bishop N. D. Ayakndue pronounced the immediate suspension and excommunication of Elder Marshall Ime Udo of Apapa Assembly, Lagos and Elder Emmanuel Bassey Edoho, the Presiding Elder of Ikot Ebiyan Assembly, Eket for taking part in the disruption of proceedings during the last Ministers Conference at the International Headquarters of the Church and parading themselves as Trustees of the Church.

“The Non members of the Church whose names were included in the aforesaid Public Notices of 25th June, 2025 and 30” October, 2025 i.e Mrs Uduak Anthony William Akpan, Eniedi Emy Olapade, Michael Cyrinus Akpan, and John Akwaowo Umondia are henceforth barred from further interfering with the administration of the Church and parading themselves and acting in any manner as Trustees of the Mission.

“Others who are members of The Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church Inc. and did not consent, permit and/or authorize the inclusion of their names in the said contemptuous Public Notices should forward their Affidavit of Renunciation duly sworn at the Registry of any Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to the Head office of the Mission within Seven (7) days from the date of publication of this Press Release.

“Members of the Church, Corporate Affairs Commission, relevant Agencies of Government and the general public should be well guided.” The statement reads.