After 11 days of public criticism by concerned citizens and police intervention, Pastor Ogbogho Sunday of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has finally restored electricity and water supply to one of his tenants, Kenneth Orusi, whom he allegedly subjected to inhumane conditions over a property dispute in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Orusi had endured nearly two weeks without basic utilities after the landlord, Pastor Ogbogho, disconnected him from essential services on March 23, 2025.
The disconnection, which lasted for 11 days, sparked outrage online and offline.
Following media coverage and the intervention of the Nigerian Police, when electricity was restored to the area around 5:00am on Friday, April 4, 2025, upon checking, the tenant confirmed that power had also been reinstated in his apartment.
However, the water supply remained cut off, prompting Orusi to raise further concerns.
Normalcy was eventually restored around 4:00am on Saturday, April 5, when both electricity and water were fully restored to the apartment.
The matter drew widespread attention after a report alleged that Pastor Sunday had deliberately disconnected his tenant’s utilities in an attempt to exert pressure.
Local residents and human rights advocates, particularly the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), condemned the act as unethical and unchristian, especially given Pastor Sunday’s role as a spiritual leader.
Public calls for intervention grew louder, with several civil society groups demanding the immediate restoration of the tenant’s rights and services.
These actions followed a formal petition filed by the tenant at the ‘B’ Division of the Nigerian Police Force, Delta State Command.
The incident has sparked broader conversations around tenant rights and the responsibilities of landlords, particularly those in positions of public or religious authority.
Legal experts have reiterated that disconnecting utilities as a form of coercion or retaliation violates Nigeria’s tenancy laws and could result in civil or even criminal penalties.
As of now, the tenant remains in the property and has expressed hope for a peaceful resolution moving forward.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups are urging RCCG leadership to investigate the matter and ensure accountability within the church’s leadership ranks.
It would be recall that a tenant in Asaba, had accused his landlord, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Ogbogho Sunday, of illegally disconnecting his water and electricity supply, causing him severe hardship.
