On January 8, 2024, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, also known as T.B. Joshua, allegedly committed sexual crimes such as rape, abuse, and forced abortions, which the BBC revealed in a three-part investigative documentary.
Recall that the prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, better known by his stage name T.B. Joshua, passed away on the 5th of June, 2021. According to unsubstantiated claims, he had a stroke and was sent overseas for treatment, where he stayed for six months before passing away after he came back to Nigeria.
The documentary included information regarding how SCOAN kept its members unaware of the facts behind the 2014 collapse of one of the church’s guesthouses. Members saw a brief film of the building with what appeared to be an aircraft flying over it on Emmanuel TV, which was shown to them numerous times.
Numerous Nigerians have responded to the aforementioned BBC documentary. While some Nigerians applauded it for bringing attention to sexual crimes, others condemned it and accused the BBC of defaming the late T.B. Joshua and the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Additionally, they charged that the BBC had collaborated with T.B. Joshua’s former workers to portray him and the church in a negative light.
More than ten (10) Nigerian pastors, however, have been accused of sexual offences
Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo
He was born on the1st of January, 1976 in Kwara State. He is a writer and pastor from Nigeria. He serves as the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly’s (COZA) main pastor. While working at the church, Ese Walter claimed in August 2013 that she had a sexual relationship with Fatoyinbo.
In June 2019, Busola Dakolo—a famous photographer and the gospel musician Timi Dakolo’s wife—also claimed that Fatoyinbo had sexually assaulted her twice while she was a minor, around two decades earlier.
Though Bukola Dakolo went ahead and filed a rape complaint against him, the court dismissed it, finding that Fatoyinbo’s denial of the charge was merely sentimental. Busola was fined one million naira by the court for using up too much of their time.
Nnenna Kalu-Ude, a former COZA member, accused Biodun Fatoyinbo of being complicit in the killing of Tega Akpofure, a member of the COZA music team, in January 2022. Later, Akpofure’s husband refuted the accusation.
Apostle Johnson Suleman
He was born on the 24th of March, 1971. He is a Nigerian televangelist, the senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, a church with its headquarters in Auchi, Edo State. Suleman who started as an assistant pastor in the Armor of God Church in Lagos in 1998, started Omega Fire Ministries in 2004.
In 2017, Otobo claimed at a news briefing in Lagos that she had sex escapades with him in the United States and Italy apart from frolicking with the pastor. She further shared details about Suleman’s sex appetite, sleeping habits how they arranged their meetings and the payments she received. In 2021, a former pastor of Omega Fire Ministries, Mike Davids also accused the General Overseer of the church, Apostle Suleman, of sleeping with his wife.
He further stated that he would expose the truths behind Stephanie Otobo’s sex scandal. In 2022, a blog fondly called Gistlover claimed that the cleric had an affair with a host of Nollywood’s finest actresses including Georgina Onuoha, Queen Nwokoye, Shan George, and Vivian Metchie.According to the blog, others include Lilian Bach, Idaho Ojo, Ruth Kadiri, Mercy Johnson, Chinyere Winifred, Larriet Omo Brish, Ini Edo, Joy Ogbunu, Angela Okorie, and Mary Uranta.In 2022, Halima Abubakar, a Nollywood actress also claimed that Apostle Suleman Johnson slept with her.
The actress who claimed that she once dated the cleric said he also had sexual affairs with several actresses, including Shan George and Iyabo Ojo.
She also claimed that she was pregnant on three occasions for Apostle Johnson Suleman.
Pastor Chris Omashola
He is a Senior Pastor of Zionwealth Ministry situated in Lekki. In 2019, sex tapes featuring Omoshola and Princess Tamara Okpewho emerged and went viral on social media.
It gained a lot of reactions from Nigerians and the lady in the said video, Tamara later narrated that she and the cleric were lovers. The scandal unfolded with accusations of video leaks for blackmail purposes.Pastor Joshua Iginla
He was born on the 21st of May, 1969. He is a Nigerian pastor and televangelist. He is the founder and senior pastor of the Champions Royal Assembly situated in Abuja.In 2019, Iginla shocked his congregation by publicly confessing that he was having an affair outside his marriage. While addressing his members, he revealed marital challenges, including his wife’s infidelity, leading to the birth of children out of wedlock.
However, his wife in an interview revealed that she had no extra-marital affairs nor bore children out of wedlock.
Bishop Francis Wale Oke
He is a Nigerian pastor and founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries aka Christ Life Church.While addressing his congregation, Wale Oke shockingly disclosed that he was having an affair with his secretary.
He further disclosed that the relationship between him and his secretary had been on for years.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
He was born on 7th of December, 1963. He is a preacher, author and president of Loveworld. He is also the founder of the Church Christ Embassy and author of the daily devotional Rhapsody of Realities.In 2014, Anita Oyakhilome alleged that his husband, Chris Oyakhilome was involved in adultery and unreasonable behaviors and added that they were the reasons that she and Pastor Chris had to dissolve their marriage.However, Pastor Chris denied the allegations, adding that external influences orchestrated them.
Pastor Sunday Adelaja
He founded and leads the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations, a Christian denomination in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2016, around 20 women in his church accused Adelaja of being involved in a scandal related to adultery and extramarital affairs.
READ ALSO: A Girl Pregnant At The Age Of 11 Became The Youngest Mom In England
The Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith announced in March 2016, through a press release, that Adelaja was in recovery after admitting to adultery with women in the church during a pastors’ conference. Adelaja, however, denied the allegations of extramarital affairs, claiming that some pastors were trying to replace him because he hadn’t spent at least 10 years in Russia.
Pastor Timothy Ngwu
Second at the right hand side, wearing yellow shirt and blue trouser.
He leads the Vineyard Ministry of the Holy Trinity in Enugu. In December 2020, his wife went to the police, accusing him of getting her young niece pregnant.
Additional reports stated that the 53-year-old pastor claimed the Holy Spirit instructed him to impregnate 20 members of his church. In response, the pastor denied having relations with married women unless their husbands agreed at the Holy Spirit’s behest. He also disclosed having five wives, 13 children, and other partners, all of which he said were a result of the Holy Spirit’s command
Rev. Ken Oyakhilome
He is the regional pastor of Christ Embassy in charge of South Africa until a few years ago when he was transferred to the branch of the church in Texas, USA. He is also said to be the younger brother of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Christ Embassy.
In 2014, he was accused of fornication and adultery. He was alleged to have impregnated a South African lady, name withheld, a member of the Church in Randburg, Guateng, which is the headquarters of Christ Embassy, South Africa.According to sources, the romance between Rev. Ken and the member was an open secret among members of the Church in South Africa and the alleged pregnancy of the lady was said to have ruffled feathers among the leaders of the church, but was buried to prevent a scandal.Sources also disclosed that the lady aborted the child with the knowledge of front-runners of the church.However, Rev. Ken Oyakhilome denied all allegations and was transfered to the branch of the church in Texas.
Bishop Chris Kwakpovwe
He was born on 15th of November, 1961. He is the founder and senior pastor of Manna Prayer Mountain (MPM) Ministry Worldwide, headquartered in Lagos. He is also the author of Our Daily Manna, a daily devotional book.In 2017, a recording of a telephone conversation allegedly between Rita and an individual who identified himself as Chris recently surfaced online.The male voice in the recording confessed love for Rita and expressed interest in having sexual relations with her.“I’m crazy about you but you are not so I decided to take my eyes off you. I’m just looking for someone to take out, yesterday I took somebody out yesterday and I want to take you out today but you are running from me, you would have enjoyed the two days now. Even Mummy respects you,” the male voice was heard saying.
The male voice assured Rita of good sex, saying, “don’t worry before I do it, I’ll tell you. Don’t you know I can do it, I will do it and you will enjoy it, you will forget your name. You will be calling my name Chris, Chris. I can’t wait to have you.“I’m missing you crazy please plan for us to see. If you want us to marry, we will have to plan it. I can never have more than two, I can not cope with anyone other than Mummy and you. You don’t call or text. I’m in Lekki, working alone and I want to hear from you, I prefer Whatsapp messages.”Reacting to the viral audio clip, the church has said that the voice in the recording does not belong to the pastor.
Pastor Chukwuma Nkwocha
He is the General Overseer of the Tongue of Fire Restoration Ministry, located in the Shogunle area of Lagos State.In 2016, the Lagos state Police Command arrested Chukwuma Nkwocha for allegedly keeping 30 under-aged girls as sex slaves. Nkwocha was holding a service on Tuesday when operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) stormed the church to pick him up.Badmos said two of the girls had confessed that Nkwocha had carnal knowledge of them. “The command rescued about 30 young girls from the pastor’s custody,” Dolapo reportedly said.“Two of them acknowledged he had canal knowledge of them. However, investigation is ongoing.”Reacting to the development, the younger brother of the pastor denied the allegations.
Pastor Ofuche Ukoha
He is the founder and senior pastor of Perfect Christianity Mission. In 2014, the founder and senior pastor, Ukoha faced various sexual assault accusations including the killing of a 12-year-old virgin girl in Badagry.
