High Court restrains ECWA executive from recognising ‘illegal’ Kano Central DCC
A Kano State High Court sitting in Ungogo on the 27th April 2026 issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the national leadership of the the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) from recognising the controversial executive committee (EXCO) of the purported Kano Central District Church Council (DCC).
The certified true copy of the court order, obtained exclusively by NigerianSketch reveals that the order was issued in Suit No: K/686/25 by Hon. Justice Hauwa L. Minjibir.
The court’s directives
In the ruling, the court explicitly barred the top echelon of the ECWA leadership from dealing with the embattled EXCO members. According to the court document, the restricted national officials (1st to 6th Defendants) include:
- The Registered Trustees of ECWA
- ECWA President: Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat
- ECWA Vice President: Rev. Dr. Steven S. Ajise
- ECWA General Secretary: Rev. Dr. Ayuba Asheshe
- ECWA Assistant General Secretary: Rev. Dr. Sunday Congo
- ECWA Treasurer: Elder Dr. Ayuba Asheshe
The interlocutory order was issued on the 27th day of April, 2026.
They are strictly restrained, either by themselves, servants, or agents, from recognizing the 7th to 12th Defendants—Rev. Dr. Emmanuel O. Malomo, Rev. Yusuf Sarki, Rev. Ibrahim Auta, Rev. Eli Ego, Eld. Ibrahim Lado, and Eld. Nuhu Ahmed—as executive members of the disputed Kano Central DCC pending the determination of the substantive suit.
History of defiance and contempt
This development marks the fifth order of its kind aimed at halting the operation of the disputed DCC.
The crisis dates back to August 2025, when the court initially restrained the leadership of ECWA from inaugurating the Kano Central DCC. In blatant defiance of that order, the ECWA General Secretary proceeded with the inauguration.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Court nullifies ECWA Kano Central DCC, orders arrest of executives
This forced the Plaintiffs—comprising Elder Daniel Ishaya, Elder Bulus Bahago, and seven others—to return to court. Consequently, the Kano State High Court Vacation Court No. 2, presided over by Hon. Justice Maryam Sabo, nullified the inauguration, restrained the EXCO from parading themselves, and summoned the ECWA President for contempt.
Despite these serial judicial interventions, the ECWA Executive has allegedly continued to interact with the restrained EXCO. Recently, between April 20th and 25th, 2026, Rev. Emmanuel Malomo, Rev. Ibrahim Auta, and Nuhu Ahmad were spotted attending the General Church Council at the church’s headquarters in Jos, in direct violation of the standing order.
Judicial warning
Issuing a stern warning against further disrespect to the rule of law, the court noted that refusing to grant the interlocutory application would only embolden the defendants to continue flouting valid judicial orders.
A Kano-based lawyer observed that courts guard and cherish their orders jealously, and any deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the judiciary will not go unpunished.
Court matches words with action: Nullifies DCC, orders arrest of executives
Following the persistent disregard of the April injunction, the court on Thursday officially matched its stern warnings with severe consequences. It nullified the establishment and operations of the purported Kano Central DCC altogether.
Moving swiftly from warnings to active orders, the presiding judge also issued a committal warrant for the arrest and remand of the nullified DCC’s executive members over continuous and willful contempt of court.
With the nullification in place and arrest order active, the court has formally adjourned the multi-layered suit to October 5, 2026, for further hearing.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and legal experts monitoring the case note that the ruling sends an unambiguous message across Nigeria’s religious landscape that no institution, regardless of its spiritual standing, is above the law.
All eyes now turn to the October 5 resumption to see how the national ECWA leadership responds to these severe judicial sanctions.
