Embattled Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo said he shunned the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) panel probing the rape allegations against him by Busola Dakolo because of legal advice.
He said he declined the panel’s invitations because his lawyers realised the sitting might be partial.
Recalled that PFN had on Thursday declared its probe into the allegations against Fatoyinbo inconclusive because the preacher refused to turn up after several invitations.
A statement released by a Senior Assistant to the COZA Pastor, Ademola Adetuberu, in Abuja on Friday, explained that the legal advice was also premised on the statement issued by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, publicly disowned Fatoyinbo.
“We recall that when Pastor Fatoyinbo was invited by a phone call few days ago by Pastor Akinola Akinwale, who is the National Administrative Secretary of PFN, we explained that our Pastor would not honour the invitation due to legal advice hinged on the ongoing police investigation.
“The legal advice was also premised on the press statement issued and personally signed by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, where our Pastor was publicly disowned.
“Based on the foregoing, we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the PFN was already prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session.
“According to the report, Rev. Omobude, whom we hold in high esteem, went further to crucify our Pastor without seeking to know his side of the story on the matter.
“With all due respect, we consider this a prejudicial position in dispensing justice and fairness.”
He added: “Even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was given an opportunity for a fair hearing by the Kangaroo panel set up with the prime motive of condemning Him to death.”
He however denied there were written invitations from the panel or PFN leadership aside from the phone calls requesting for his presence.
Fatoyinbo promised to appear before the panel as soon as the police probe into the allegation was concluded.
The statement clarified: “Once the police investigation is over, our Pastor is ready to honour the invitation.
We have also been legally advised to deploy judicial intervention to clear our Pastor as soon as possible, and the process has commenced in earnest.”
