ABUJA: A five-month marital deadlock has culminated in the public expulsion of a newly married woman, identified as Oyiza, from the Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide (HOREMOW) in Abuja.
The church’s leadership took the drastic step after she allegedly refused to consummate her marriage to her husband, Isaac, citing a lack of love despite their multiple wedding ceremonies.
The expulsion, which was detailed in a video uploaded to the church’s official YouTube channel in February 2026 and reported by The Punch, followed failed mediation attempts by the church’s founder, Pastor Paul Rika.
A Marriage Without Intimacy
The couple’s journey began with a traditional wedding in Okene, Kogi State, followed by a court wedding in Ibadan, Oyo State, and a final church ceremony on September 6, 2025.
However, according to the husband, the “honeymoon” never began. Isaac revealed that since their wedding night, Oyiza had consistently asked for more time without providing a clear explanation.
“I agreed to wait, as I also had no prior sexual experience,” Isaac stated, noting that his patience eventually led him to seek pastoral intervention after months of resistance.
The “Marine Spirit” Allegation
Pastor Rika, however, framed the refusal in spiritual terms, moving beyond simple marital friction to allegations of “spiritism.”
He claimed that his wife received a revelation suggesting that Oyiza is spiritually bound to a non-human entity.
“She is a marine girl who is married to a marine demon, and they have children together,” the cleric alleged during the broadcast. He further asserted that Oyiza is allegedly bound by a “spiritual covenant” that forbids her from being intimate with a human husband, and claimed her actions have brought “shame” upon the institution of marriage.
Five Months of Failed Mediation
The church leadership claims to have spent nearly half a year attempting to reconcile the couple before deciding on expulsion. Throughout the process, Oyiza reportedly maintained that she simply did not love Isaac, despite having gone through three separate marriage rites with him.
As of the time of the report, Oyiza has not released a formal statement regarding the allegations of spiritism or the church’s decision to expel her.
