An Abuja church, Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide, removed a newly married woman, Oyiza, from its membership because she allegedly refused to have sexual relations with her husband, Isaac.
The couple, who lived in Ibadan, Oyo State, were married on September 6, 2025, after completing traditional rites in Okene, Kogi State, and a court wedding in Ibadan. However, shortly after the ceremony, the relationship reportedly became strained.
According to Isaac, his wife began expressing doubts about the marriage months before the wedding, saying she no longer had feelings for him. He said the church’s marriage committee counselled them at the time, and she later indicated she was ready to proceed. The wedding went ahead as planned.
Isaac alleged that after the ceremony, Oyiza declined his attempts at intimacy, insisting that she did not love him and claiming she had been pressured into the union by her mother. He said repeated efforts by both families and church leaders to resolve the matter were unsuccessful.
In a video shared on the church’s platform, the International Director of the movement, Pastor Paul Rika, announced her expulsion after months of counselling sessions failed to produce reconciliation. He accused her of bringing embarrassment to the church and declared that she had been excommunicated.
Isaac further claimed that the situation created tension in their home, alleging that his wife often accused him of attempting to force intimacy whenever he made advances. He described the marriage as emotionally distressing and said he had hoped things would improve over time.
Oyiza could not be reached for comment, and her response to the allegations was not available as of press time.
The church leader also claimed that his wife had a spiritual revelation concerning the matter, suggesting spiritual influences were responsible for the crisis.
However, mental health professionals who commented on the situation offered alternative explanations. A clinical psychologist, Oluwakemi Akintoyese, said several factors could account for such behaviour, including emotional distress, medical conditions, trauma, or being compelled into marriage without genuine consent. She emphasised the need to hear the woman’s perspective before drawing conclusions.
Another psychologist, Afolabi Aroyehun, noted that fear of sexual intimacy—sometimes linked to past trauma or strict upbringing—could contribute to resistance in marriage. He added that societal pressure to marry can push individuals into commitments they are not emotionally prepared for.
Marriage counsellor Sunday Anani also stressed that emotional connection is central to marital intimacy. He explained that when love and trust are absent, physical closeness can become difficult. He further observed that unresolved past experiences or coercion into marriage may create barriers that require professional intervention rather than condemnation.
The incident has since sparked conversations about consent, emotional readiness for marriage, and the role of counselling in resolving marital conflicts.
