A Nigerian woman, Ifeyinwa Danielle Ebele, has alleged that her late mother’s burial was delayed in 2007 due to a dispute with Living Faith Church in Umuahia.
Click Here to Join Our Whatsapp Channel
In a post shared on social media, she recounted how her mother, Mrs. Jennifer Ngozi Kalu, died at the age of 36 after a brief illness while visiting Gusau, Zamfara State. Following her death, the family reportedly reached out to the church for burial arrangements.
A letter dated July 31, 2007, addressed to the Resident Pastor of the church in Umuahia, showed that the deceased’s husband formally notified the church and requested that it officiate at the burial. The letter noted that although the deceased was a member and a tithe contributor, her tithe booklet—which served as proof of membership—was missing, with only a photocopy available.
According to the woman, the church allegedly insisted on seeing the original booklet before proceeding, leading to multiple trips by her father between the eastern region and Gusau in an effort to resolve the issue.
She further claimed that the situation caused significant distress to the family, adding that she and her younger sibling were unable to attend the funeral. She also alleged that no representatives of the church have reached out to the family since the incident.
The claims have since sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians debating the role of documentation in religious rites and the responsibilities of religious institutions during times of grief.
As of the time of this report, Living Faith Church has not issued an official response to the allegations.
