Our Founder

Elder Abraham Williams Onanuga was born at Atikori Ijebu-Igbo in February 1873 to the family of Mr. Onanubi of Ijebu Ode and Princess Ademotun daughter of Fidipote of Ijebu Ode. He attended Anglican elementary school Ijebu Igbo after which he joined the Native Authority Police Force in Ijebu Ode. From there he left for Lagos to become a paid Lay-Reader at Holy Trinity, Ebute- Ero. After a while, he pulled out of the Anglican Missionary Church to start his own evangelistic mission in Agege where he was preaching the gospel and healing the sick. Not too long, he became a disciple of Baba Moses Orimolade by February 1926, in company of Elder D. Onanaiye, they established the Holy Order at Agege and Egba district. Elder Onanuga was of the first four Apostles to be ordained by the founder on the 4th of April 1928 along with Apostles Bada, Afonja and Fakoleti. On 11th October, 1933, Baba Orimolade blessed Elder Onanuga and wore him one of his garments and showed him as his able successor.

Elder Abraham Williams Onanuga was inducted as the Baba Aladura on the 24th of December 1933 by the Advisory Board led by Elder J. O. Coker. Consequently, Baba Aladura Onanuga went to stay at Enu Owa (Richard Lane, Lagos). Under his leadership Baba Onanuga made frantic efforts to reconcile all factions of the Holy Order. The Praying Band led by Ezekiel Davies agreed to work in the unification with the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim. Premised on this agreement, Baba Abraham Onanuga went back to Ita Balogun, the old Headquarters of the Praying Band, which Baba Moses Orimolade departed in 1929. In 1935, Elder Gabriel Ogunyadi observed that the members of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim were disintegrating. The Ilajes were no more coming to National Conference. The same thing happened to Dahomeians (Benin Republic). Even the members in Lagos area have all scattered in the Lagos Island, only Elder Ogunyadi, who was the leader of Ita Balogun remained, Elder Adebulewo had gone to Ijebu. Elder Ogunyadi approached Baba Aladura Onanuga and sought permission to start worshipping in the name of Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim. Baba Aladura Onanuga granted him the permission. Unfortunately, at one of the said services conducted by Elder Ogunyadi, a member from Ita Balogun sent the late Baba Aladura S. A. Adewunmi to stop the service been conducted by Elder Ogunyadi. This resulted in a fracas, so Ogunyadi decided not to be part of the Unification any longer. He went to Ojokoro and requested the leader, Elder Peter Omojola should come and lead his own faction of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim. They hired a room at Hotonou in Lagos for their worship. With this division, there was four factions in Lagos.

• The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim led by Baba Aladura Onanuga
• The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim led by Peter Omojola
• The Praying Band of Cherubim and Seraphim led by E. A. Davies
• The Cherubim and Seraphim Society led by Abiodun Emmanuel

To propel reconciliation, the four groups were invited to Abeokuta by the Alake of Egba Land who after hearing from all sides of the Cherubim and Seraphim advised that:

• Baba Aladura Onanuga be recognised as the only BABA ALADURA
• Elder E. A. Davies should be regarded as a Leader
• Captain Abiodun Emmanuel to be regarded as Mother

This terms of settlement did not grant any position to Ogunyadi group.

The Unification between the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim led by Baba Aladura Onanuga and Cherubim and Seraphim Society led by Abiodun Emmanuel continued steadfastly until death of Baba Aladura Onanuga in 1946. The late Apostle General Rufus who helped to establish the Odi-Olowo branch of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim was originally a member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Society.

Towards the end of 1936, the agreement was broken by the Praying Band of the Cherubim and Seraphim. Baba Onanuga departed Lagos for Ebute-Metta to stay with his son in Kano Street. He later relocated the Branch to Obasa house at the junction of Strachan and Ibadan Street (Olopo Merin) and later moved to Bola Street, Ebute Metta.

The Holy Order grew strong and waged war against the evil societies around them including the Alawo cult members, Oloros, Egungun, worshippers of Sango and Obatala, the witches and wizards.

In February 1937, Baba Aladura Onanuga ordained the second eight Elders as Apostles of the Holy Order.

Membership had grown to an extent that tenants in Oguntolu’s house at Bola Street, Ebute Metta could no longer move freely. Oguntolu then gave the Holy Order a piece of land at No. 75 Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta (East), free of charge. Baba Aladura Onanuga laid foundation of the Prayer House at No. 75 Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta on 8th February 1937. The building was completed and dedicated on 8th July 1942. He named it “Mount Zion House of Prayer”. This Prayer House then became the General Headquarters of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim.

Baba Onanuga organized the Holy Lamb (Sept. 1937), Aladura Ojojumo Band (July 1942), Atupa ti Olorun Tan Band (July 1944) and Ifeloju Band (July, 1945). Baba Aladura Onanuga popularized the use of incense, consecration and blessing of oil and most of the prayer gowns of different grades were designed during his reign. He introduced most of the anointed ranks of the Order. As a matter of fact, he introduced the Order Booklet for liturgical practices.

In April 1946, Baba Aladura Abraham Onanuga slept in the Lord. When he was about to breathe his last breathe only the female members were with him, namely: Mother Robert, Mother Seton, Mother Captain Wade and few others. They inquired from him about his successor and he told them that out of the three most senior elders namely: Elder J. O. Coker, Elder Amodu Adewunmi and Elder J. S. Olugbusi, the spirit had chosen the youngest, Elder Amodu Adewunmi. He then gave up the ghost and was laid to rest at Apena Cemetery.