The bank accounts of two religious charities have been frozen while the Charity Commission investigates unauthorised payments to a trustee they share.

The statutory inquiries have been opened into Jesus Power House Ministries and Centre for Skills Enhancement, which share the same trustee Onyekachi Anyanwu.

She is listed on the charities register as the only board member for both Christian poverty relief organisations.

In both cases the regulator is to look at concerns around the “possible misapplication of funds for unauthorised payments to a trustee” and whether potentially inaccurate financial accounts have been submitted.

The investigation into the Centre for Skills Enhancement will also investigate whether details in the charity’s accounts about transactions were omitted.

Meanwhile, the probe into the Jesus Power House Ministries will explore whether inaccurate accounts suggest a lack of transparency.

The Commission notes that accounts for both charities do not comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).

Due to their concerns the Commission has “utilised its powers to freeze” the charities’ bank accounts while its investigations are ongoing.

The regulator has also raised concerns at a lack of trustees at the charities, which are required to have three strong boards.

But they note that two new trustees have been appointed at the Centre for Skills Enhancement and three new board members have been appointed at Jesus Power House Ministries.

While the two charities share the same trustee the regulator points out that they are separate entities.

According to the charities register the Centre for Skills Enhancement’s total income and spending for the year ending December 2021 was identical at £227,080, and it has five volunteers.

On the register Jesus Power House Ministries spending and income is also the same over this period, at £478,189. It has seven volunteers.

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