Rape Allegation: Fatoyinbo notorious for sex scandals – Ilorin based ex-Coza member

By Kayode Adeoti and Mike Adeyemi

Apparently, all is not well with the Founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo who is currently embroiled in a sex scandal with his ex- church member, Busola Dakolo.
The Abuja based pastor reportedly raped Busola, wife of Nigerian soul singer, Timi Dakolo, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when she was a teenager.
The matter got messier yesterday as a one-time devouted member of the church revealed that the Abuja based pastor is allegedly notorious for sexual abuse right from his school days as an undergraduate.
The former member of the church, who spoke with our reporters on condition of anonymity for security reasons, confirmed that there has been series of sexual allegations against Fatoyinbo even before he transferred the headquarters of COZA to Abuja.
The source further alleged that many ladies in the church had been sexually assaulted by the flamboyant pastor but could not come out to tell their stories for fear of stigmatization.
“Whoever wants to know so much about Pastor Biodun should go to all the higher institutions he attended. He is notorious for sex scandals in Ilorin before he moved the headquarters of COZA in Abuja. There were many cases of sex abuse against him, no one was bold enough to report this and it went down with time.
The only person who had the courage to come out to the public then was Ese Walter who accused Fatoyinbo of sexual exploitation around 2013 whilst she was a member of the church,” the source divulged,” the source further said.

…heavy security presence during Sunday service in Ilorin

There was heavy security presence during the church service at the Ilorin branch of the church as security agents manned strategic positions around the church premises to prevent any form of disorderliness.
A police van loaded with armed men packed at the church premise, was sighted by one of our reporters at the entrance of the church.
New faces were subjected to intense scrutiny by the security team of the church before they were allowed into the auditorium.
Our reporter who was at the church for the second session of the Sunday service around 11:15 am was initially denied entry but was later allowed in several checks ad interrogation.
It was observed that the church members were unperturbed about the rape allegation against the senior pastor.
A member of the church who spoke with this medium on the issue after the church service maintained that it is a spiritual matter and it won’t be right for any worshipper of the church to comment on it.
Speaking further, the COZA member who declined giving his identity, stressed that time will tell who is lying about the issue, urging Nigerians to endeavour not to take laws into their hands.

SERAP condemns arbitrary arrest of protesters

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has strongly condemned the harassment, repression and arbitrary arrests by Nigerian law enforcement and security agents of anti-rape activists who have been peacefully protesting today outside the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Abuja.
In a statement by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those detained and allow them to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
The statement read in part: “It’s ridiculous and unfair that the Nigerian authorities are arresting peaceful protesters demanding justice for alleged rape rather than going after the suspected perpetrator.”
“The Nigerian authorities should immediately establish an independent commission to investigate alleged excessive use of force by law enforcement and security agents at COZA headquarters and bring to justice anyone found to be responsible.”
“While law enforcement and security agents have a responsibility to provide public security, they need to abide by human rights standards on the use of force. The allegation of use of excessive force against peaceful protesters demanding justice for alleged rape against a popular pastor urgently demands a fully independent investigation.”

Church members confront protesters, organize counter protest

COZA members in Abuja form human barricade preventing protesters from proceeding to the front of their church.
Concerned Nigerians who besieged the headquarters of COZA Churchp in Guzape Abuja on Sunday to protest against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, founder of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly, over rape allegations by Busola Dakolo were prevented by the church members from gaining access into the church auditorium.
The protesters, clad in white tee-shirts were stopped by angry church members who formed a human shield to prevent the protesters from advancing toward the church building.
The protesters, therefore, decided to sit on the floor at the junction after a heated argument, vowing not to be intimidated.

Abuja residents offered N10,000, soft drinks by COZA agents

As protests of the #ChurchToo movement mobilised on social media demanding justice and investigations into rape allegations levelled against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Commonwealth of Zion Church Abuja got underway on Sunday, a group of local men showed up in counter-protest pledging support for Fatoyinbo.
As journalist quizzed the protesters on their mission, they excitedly told journalists on camera they were offered N10,000 to stage pro-Fatoyinbo protest in Abuja.
One protester said, “Money is talking! Money is talking!”
When queried on who paid him, he replied, “He said he will give us N10,000.”
SaharaReporters observed that the hired thugs were also given soft drinks to infiltrate the group of protesters.
The #ChurchToo movement is holding simultaneous protest at COZA churches in Lagos and Abuja after Busola Dakolo detailed how Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo allegedly raped her as a teen choir member in his church.
Fatoyinbo has denied the allegations.

I’m the best dressed pastor in town, says embattled cleric

Embattled Founder of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, has said he is the best dressed pastor in town.
Fatoyinbo, who is facing a public backlash for allegedly raping Busola Dakolo, said this on Sunday while thanking members of the church who are standing by him.
Protesters had stormed the church headquarters in Abuja and its Lagos branch, asking the pastor to step aside and be made to face justice.
“I am the best dressed pastor in town,” he said to a round of applause from the congregation.
“But having you, I am the most blessed pastor,” he added, asking his congregation not to be provoked as they make their way out through the people protesting at the church gate.
Known to be stylish, Fatoyinbo had recently rocked labels like Angelo Galasso, Billionaire Couture, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Prada, Gucci, and Christian Louboutin.
During the service that ended abruptly, the pastor also announced the suspension of a seven-day programme of the church, saying the “Holy Spirit” directed him to do so.
He said he had been relating with his mentors and in the coming days, he will be giving some instructions.
Fatoyinbo had since denied the allegation, and while also speaking on Sunday, Modele, his wife, said her husband is not a rapist.

My husband is not a rapist- Wife

Wife of the founder of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Omodele Fatoyinbo has said her husband is not a rapist.
Speaking at the Abuja headquarters of the church on Sunday, the woman dismissed the allegation levelled against her husband by Busola, wife of Timi Dakolo, a Nigerian singer.
Busola had said Biodun Fatoyinbo raped her as a teenager growing up in Ilorin, Kwara State. COZA started in the ancient town in 1999.
But Omodele, also a senior pastor of the church, said it was untrue. She spoke while welcoming newcomers to the church.
“My husband is not a rapist. Even if he was not a believer, he would not be a rapist,” she said.
“If you are a first timer, this is the authentic COZA you’ve heard about. You can hug each other. If you are of same sex, please o, before they say we are giving women to men.”
Some female members of the church also gave testimonies on how “God used Pastor Fatoyinbo” to transform their lives.

Church cancels annual int’l programme

The Founder, Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo has announced the cancellation of the annual seven days programme of the church which would have started on Monday.
Tagged “Seven Days of Glory”, influential preachers from the US, including TD Jakes, spoke at previous edition of the programme.
Fatoyinbo, who spoke briefly at the Sunday service, said he took the decision as directed by the “Holy Spirit”.
“I have been relating with all my mentors, you know I am a man under authority. I really love to listen to them,” he said.
“So, I am going to be giving a few instructions as time goes on but the first instruction I want to give is, with what is going on, we are going to be having prayers every day for those who are interested to come. But we are not going to have the seven days of glory.
“I don’t want all these kinds of stuff. I think last month we prayed for a whole month and we do all of that. Please, let’s be people of peace. So, if you want to pray with us, you can come here to pray. But the regular seven days won’t hold this year… you don’t want to put your guest speakers through all of that.
“You know we love to host people properly. And you know some of them, apart from the fact that the Holy Spirit spoke to me about that, my mentors said to me, this is what we need to do while we step in and make sure we see what is going on. And you know what we stand for in COZA.
“So, please let’s obey God in our mentors and be a people of peace. Also, when you are going out, they are going to direct you how to go out, please don’t fight anybody, don’t reply anybody, you came to worship. They may say things to you, it doesn’t matter. Please, behave yourselves and make sure everything is in place.”

You must invite him, lawyers tell police

The Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has asked the police to invite Biodun Fatoyimbo, pastor of CommonWealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), over the allegation of rape levelled against him.
Busola Dakolo, celebrity photographer, had accused Fatoyimbo of raping her when she was 16.
In a statement on Friday, Pelumi Olajengbesi, COPA convener, said the police ought to probe the allegation, given that rape is a criminal offence.
“By a community reading or Sections 4 & 24 of the Police Act, the Nigeria Police Force must urgently invite Pastor Biodun Fatoyimbo to appear before it to out to rest all sundry matters related thereto this matter. This is a demand,” the statement read.
“Regardless, the force must begin a thorough independent investigation of the allegations against Pastor Fatoyimbo given that rape is a criminal matter squarely within their purview and mandate as the law enforcement arm of the people.
“The Nigeria Police Force are to whereupon make its findings public and proceed to prosecute the culprit, without delay, where it’s investigations turn up sufficient material for a case of rape.
“Twenty-Four Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates have volunteer and are poised with alacrity to undertake at no cost the cause of Mrs. Busola Dakolo in this matter even as progressive efforts are underway to facilitate and sustain a channel of communication between us and the Dakolo family in such a truly trying time.”
Olajengbensi added that the matter must be treated “with the urgency it deserves and not swept under the carpet as has regrettably been the habit.