Testimony From COZA: How Pastor Fatoyinbo ‘Enjoyed Church Protection’

These are not the best of times for the Senior Pastor of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Mr. Biodun Fatoyinbo, as more crippling reactions have continued to trail the rape allegation recently levelled against him by Mrs Busola, wife of Nigerian singer, Timi Dakolo.

Pastor Fatoyinbo had been accused by Busola of raping her 20 years ago while she was still a teenager and a virgin. The latter had claimed in an interview that the COZA pastor allegedly raped her twice within a space of one week.

She had said, “…he brought out his penis. I was wearing a nightgown and pant, he pulled down my pant found difficulty to enter I was grunting, I would cry and he eventually penetrated, blood dropped on the floor.”

The COZA pastor had, however, denied the allegation and described it as “fallacious, non-existent and which are all denied in every measure.”

Fatoyinbo insisted that, “I have never in my life raped anybody even as an unbeliever and I am absolutely innocent of this.”

But a popular member of COZA, who has now quit the church following Busola’s allegation, Akah Nnani, has alleged that there is “a syndicate” in the church who usually cover up Fatoyinbo’s alleged immoralities.

Nnani, who is a Nollywood actor, had joined those who protested at the Lagos branch of COZA to ask the pastor to step down pending outcome of investigation in the matter.

The actor took to Instagram on Sunday to renounce his membership of COZA.

He also accused Fatoyinbo’s wife, Omodele and Pastor Folarin popularly called Pastor Flo of the Lagos branch of being members of the syndicate in the church who allegedly protect the senior pastor.

Nnani also named Pastor Wole of the Port Harcourt parish as well as “church staff, other ministers” as members of the alleged syndicate;

His statement on Instagram reads: “After watching @busoladakolo account, I believed her 100%. But I was advocating for proper procedures of getting justice on this matter because of reasons best known to me. Again, I was still in shock too. I admit, I still am in shock. I’m also not a fan of jungle justice or court of pubIic opinion because I suffered it in secondary school wrongfully.

“But after the behaviour of the church organisation today on this matter, not just the pastor, there is no need.

“It is shameful for me to call myself a member of that church. A friend said to me “his moves are like that of Pablo Escobar”. I couldn’t help but agree. It has taken me time, but I am finally here.

“We will say it for what it is. Until facts state otherwise, Pastor @biodunfatoyinbo is a rapist. There is a syndicate around him that protects him, and this involves Pastor Flo of Lagos Church, Pastor Wole of PH parish, church staff, other ministers and I dare say, his wife.

“I am no longer a member of that church. I call on every one who has a conscience to boycott @cozaglobal.

“Thank you to every Nigerian fighting. Thank you to every celebrity using their voice. You understand that your influence is not for you. Thank you. I drew strength from your voice.

“We continue to pray for him that God will touch his heart to own up to his crimes and the light of God to expose everyone involved in the syndicate.

“I stand with Busola Dakolo, I stand with every woman who has been raped. I stand against rape and rape culture. I stand against the rot in the church. @timidakolo I am 100% with you. #istandwithbusoladakolo  I rest my case on this matter now.Let the place scatter!!”

Meanwhile, following the protests that greeted the church services at the Abuja and Lagos branches of COZA on Sunday, Pastor Fatoyinbo on Monday announced that he was taking “a leave of absence from the pulpit of the church” pending further developments in the matter.

He said, “although it would break my heart to tatters to stay a day without doing ministry i believe it is the right thing to do this time. It is in interest of the flock of Christ that issues concerning me do not become a distraction to their worship of their Lord.

He added, “My confidence in the Lord remains unwavering. Though, I do not understand all that is happening I trust the Lord to lead and guide me once step at a time. Kindly pray for me and the congregation of COZA as we seek the face of the Lord during these turbulent times.”