A prolonged family feud over the vast estate of the late Chief Harrison Jefia has taken a criminal turn, with the deceased’s ninth child and cleric, Pastor Joseph Jefia, now standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged forgery and fraudulent claims of inheritance.
The case, filed under charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/501/2024, pits the Federal Government against Pastor Jefia, with the next hearing scheduled for October 23, 2025.
According to court documents, the eldest child of the late Chief Jefia, Mrs. Onoriode Lyn James (née Jefia), a United Kingdom-based businesswoman, petitioned the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where her half-brother pastors, accusing him of unlawfully taking control of their father’s assets after he died in 2003.
The contested estate includes over 100 housing units, a mansion in Effurun, several country homes, vast parcels of land, cash deposits in multiple banks, and a road construction contract valued at ₦1.2 billion.
Mrs. James alleged that Pastor Jefia and some siblings forcefully gained access to their father’s residence while he was gravely ill, taking possession of sensitive property and business documents. Investigations by law enforcement and forensic experts reportedly revealed that one of the documents used by Pastor Jefia was forged and unregistered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, in violation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
Police authorities subsequently charged the cleric with presenting the forged document during a property dispute with his half-sister, whom he allegedly harassed while she visited one of the family homes in Effurun.
Court filings indicate that the family had earlier distributed the late Chief Jefia’s properties based on traditional agreements and prior legal arrangements. However, Pastor Joseph allegedly continued to collect rent and sell parcels of land not allocated to him.
The dispute, which has dragged on for over two decades, has now escalated with the filing of a five-count criminal charge against the pastor.
Pastor Jefia is accused of forging a deed of transfer dated around March 1978 or 1979, bearing his father’s signature, and using it to falsely claim ownership of family assets. The offenses are punishable under various sections of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 LFN 2004.
He is also charged with obtaining property by deception, falsely claiming that the late Chief Jefia transferred assets to Jefia Properties Limited—a company allegedly controlled by his mother—and with forging the signature of the firm’s secretary on the deed of transfer.
Mrs. James, in a statement, appealed to the leadership of RCCG to uphold moral integrity and address the allegations against Pastor Jefia, who has reportedly served in various church regions, including Kolokolo/Enerhen and PTI.
“Our father left enough for every one of his children to prosper,” she said. “But Joseph’s greed, enabled by forged documents and disregard for family and tradition, has robbed us of justice for over two decades.”
The trial continues on October 23, 2025, as the court moves to determine the authenticity of the disputed documents and the criminal liability of Pastor Jefia.
