Grace Nation Church has decried an alleged attempt by a former member to use the media in blackmail over two vehicles gifted the church three years ago, which return are now being demanded.

The legal representative of the church, Ilesanmi Akinwale, in a statement, acknowledged that a former member of the church donated two vehicles three years ago, out of his free volition in an open church service.

Akinwale said the church was shocked when the donor recently demanded the return of the vehicles and a non-existent amount in debt, which he claimed the church owed him for the supply of diesel.

The counsel said the church never, at any time, solicited or requested any gifts from the donor, noting that the two vehicles were parked for over three years at the premises until the church decided to sell one and give the second to a member.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to attempts by a former member of the church to use the police and the media to blackmail, intimidate and tarnish the image of Grace Nation Church over two vehicles which he gave to the church.

“While we acknowledged that the donor indeed gave the church two Jeeps out of his own freewill in an open church service three years ago, and earlier this year began to make a demand for the return of the said cars, we believe that it is important to make some clarifications over the matter, in light of attempts to use the media and the police to intimidate the church.

“Sometime in 2021, the former member in an open service gave two cars to the church as his modest way of expressing and appreciating God’s faithfulness in his life, family and business and thereafter, gave the original documents of these vehicles to the church secretariat.

“For close to three years, the vehicles were really never in use and were parked in one spot until the church management decided that rather than allow the vehicles to rot, one of them should be sold and the proceeds remitted to the church coffers for the promulgation of the gospel. The church management also agreed that the second Jeep should be given to a member in an effort to support and encourage its members.

“Sometime in March this year, the donor approached our presiding pastor for a N10 million financial assistance, saying that his business had not been doing quite well. As a church with the well-being of members at heart, efforts were made to assist him to obtain a loan from a bank.”

The statement notes further: “We were shocked when recently the donor petitioned the police, claiming that the church refused to return the two vehicles and owed him N50 million for the supply of diesel. We have also been inundated with calls from the media threatening to publish negative reports against the church.

“While we reiterate our commitment to stand by any of our church members going through difficult times, we will not sit back and allow anyone to damage our hard-earned reputation and integrity through cheap blackmail, character assassination and extortion.

“We will also not hesitate to take all lawful steps to ensure that we seek redress in response to all the false allegations and shenanigans being deployed against us.”