SPAC Nation: Allegations Of Safeguarding Abuses In ‘Trap Houses’ Linked To Controversial Church

When HuffPost UK contacted Uwadiae he denied that the video was shot at a SPAC Nation safehouse.

“The information you have gathered here is clearly false. The video did not happen in any SPAC Nation safehouse,” he said. “I have always lived with my brothers and no one here has been referred here by SPAC Nation. As for the video itself, the alleged ‘victim’ can and has spoken for [himself].”

Alleged Sexual Assault Of A 16-Year-Old Girl In A Safehouse 

The most serious allegation HuffPost UK was told of relates to an alleged sexual assault by a member of SPAC Nation of a 16-year-old girl inside a trap house. 

This incident has been confirmed by the church itself in a public statement issued in March last year.

The statement said: “SPAC Nation takes any allegations of sexual misconduct, assault or violence amongst our members extremely seriously. 

“The full details of this allegation, which is alleged to have happened back in 2016, was only brought to some of our leaders’ attention by the woman in January of this year. 

“As a result, we encouraged the young woman to report the incident to the police and we also offered to do that on her behalf. However, she declined.”

Following this declaration, allegations were made online that Uwadiae had encouraged the silencing of this allegation in order to protect SPAC Nation’s reputation.

HuffPost UK has seen a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation in which Uwadiae calls for SPAC Nation members to retweet a denial of the allegations by the accused man.

But Uwadiae strongly refuted this allegation.

“I did not silence any allegation,” he said. “When it was brought to my attention this was reported to the police but [it] was declared no further action. I don’t have the power to silence anyone. I cannot defend myself against gossip but I will defend my integrity.”

SPAC Nation’s spokesman told HuffPost UK: “In the case of any sexual abuse, a victim should be encouraged to report… She was encouraged to report but she declined, we put out a statement at the time where we clarify this. 

“Also the entirely alleged assault was not between a SPAC Nation pastor but with a former member of the church who was not a pastor or leader in the church. 

“Our stance with the alleged perpetrator following the allegation was to advise him to seek help, which we would offer to anyone. This may not have been a popular response as I’m sure people would have wanted us to publicly shame him but as it was a sensitive circumstance, amongst teenagers we did not want to do this.”

The incident has raised questions about whether more should have been done to support the teenage girl involved.

The government lays out clear guidelines for charities in regards to safeguarding protocols.

Its section on “Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees” says: “As part of fulfilling your trustee duties, you must take reasonable steps to protect from harm people who come into contact with your charity.”

It continues: “We expect all trustees to make sure their charity: is quick to respond to concerns and carry out appropriate investigations,” adding that trustees must not “ignore harm or downplay failures.”

SPAC Nation says it has a robust safeguarding policy in place.

Convicted Fraudster Runs A ‘Trap House’ 

Another of the pastors in charge of one of the 20-odd trap houses linked to SPAC Nation is Mariam Mola, who has been described as an“experienced confidence trickster” because of her history of criminal convictions. 

Mola, whose real name is Mariam Mbula, describes herself as a philanthropist on her social media profiles and is involved with mentoring young women, including attending a breakfast at the Financial Times in September this year.