Over a month after taking leave of absence from pulpit duties after he was accused of rape by Busola Dakolo, a celebrity photographer and wife of singer Timi Dakolo, the embattled senior pastor of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo has returned to the pulpit. Busola had accused Fatoyinbo of raping her 20 years ago while she was still 16 years old in Ikorin, Kwara State.
Nicknamed “Gucci Pastor” for his expensive taste in clothes and cars, Fatoyinbo returned to the pulpit on Sunday to address his congregation, and delivered a sermon titled: “Sudden victories”, in a filled church auditorium. He focused his sermon on the books of 1st Timothy 6:12; Mark 4:35-37 and 1st Corinthians 10:13.
Fatoyinbo said Christians would always face persecution, but God would ensure that they are victorious. “As a Christian, you must face opposition,”Fatoyinbo said. “If God, who is holy and faithful, has enemies, you are sure going to have.” He noted that the reason most Christians fail was that they address challenging circumstances on the surface, instead of addressing the root of the matter, which is the enemy, and putting him in his place.
“In wrestling, any method can be used. When faced with challenging circumstances, pray, fast, decree, confess and prophesy God’s victory over your life. Most contrary situations around you are set up by the enemy to ripple your faith and keep you on a spot,” he said. Fatoyinbo prophesied that his members would witness victory in the new month of August.
Fatoyinbo on July 1 announced his leave of absence after Busola alleged that Fatoyinbo raped her twice in a week when she was still a teenager. The allegations prompted hundreds of protesters to march on COZA premises in Lagos and Abuja, demanding the resignation and prosecution of the pastor.
An obviously hired crowd also held a pro-Fatoyinbo march in Abuja. A protester told newsmen that he was given N10, 000 to stomp for the pastor. Fatoyinbo denied ever raping Busola or any other person. His wife, Modele, also spoke in his defence.
“Not even as an unbeliever will my husband rape someone,” Mrs Fatoyinbo said during a Sunday service in June. Fatoyinbo issued a statement saying he was taking “a leave of absence from the pulpit” to “submit to the concerns of (his) spiritual mentors”, and that he did not understand all that was happening. The pastor and Busola are both being probed by the Nigeria Police Force for the allegations.
Events took a dramatic turn when Busola and her husband Timi were summoned to appear for questioning by the police in Abuja, in what observers viewed as an attempt to blackmail and intimidate the couple. This prompted the intervention of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari who called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure a thorough investigation. The IGP then handed the case to the Deputy IGP and the investigation is still ongoing.
