COZA Pastor’s rape allegation: Justice must prevail – CAN
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Saturday condemned any case of rape in strong terms, saying it doesn’t matter who is involved.
Rev. Samson Ayokunle, President, CAN, who gave the condemnation via a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stressed that justice must prevail in all rape cases.
Ayokunle described rape as ungodly, wicked and reprehensible.
He, however, noted that CAN had no details on the trending allegations against the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo.
But he confirmed that the association had reached out to the Christian wing which Fatoyinbo belongs to ascertain truth of the matter and take necessary actions.
”We have no details about the matter other than what we are reading and hearing from the social media, and this is not reliable and credible evidence.
“The CAN leadership has reached out to the leadership of the block which the Pastor in question belongs with a view to getting to the root of the matter.
“This will help us to make the right decision on the issue,” he said.
Busola Dakolo, wife of popular musician, Timi Dakolo, during the week accused Fatoyinbo of having carnal knowledge of her when she was sixteen years old, but the Pastor has since denied the allegation. Dakolo and her family had attended the church for decades.
Meanwhile there was protest march to COZA church in Abuja, on Sunday by #ChurchTooMovement.
At the church’s entrance in Guzape district of Abuja, security agents joined church security officials to conduct a thorough search of visitors and members of the congregation who wanted to go inside the auditorium ahead of service commencement at 9:00 a.m.
Both men and women were asked to leave all their belongings outside. Only mobile phones and the Holy Bible were allowed inside.
The pastor in the eye of the storm, Biodun Fatoyinbo rendered his first Sunday sermon since the scandal of his alleged rape of Dakolo broke out last Friday.
Fatoyinbo told church members only that he had been in talks with some highly-placed individuals about the scandal.
He also announced the postponement of ‘Seven Days of Glory,’ an annual gathering known to bring top Pentecostal preachers from the United States into Abuja.
“We don’t want to put our guest speakers go through security checks,” Fatoyinbo told the congregation.
