The senior pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, says he has decided to step aside from the pulpit of the church following rape allegations against him.
Fatoyinbo had been in the news since Friday when Busola Dakolo, a celebrity photographer and wife of Timi Dakolo, Nigerian musician, accused him of raping her twice when she was 16 years old.
n a swift reaction, Pastor Fatoyinbo denied the allegation and threatened to take legal actions against Busola.
But due to several alleged rapes and sexual abuse cases against the pastor, some Nigerians had called for him to step down as a pastor in a series of protest that was held in major cities across the country on Sunday.
In a statement released on Monday, Pastor Fatoyinbo revealed that he has finally stepped down following advice from his mentors.
“I have taken time to pray and seek spiritual counsel from Christian leaders around the world who feel very concerned about the ongoing reports in the media,” the statement read.
“I have solicited their guidance on actions I should take that is honouring to our Lord Jesus Christ and the work he has called me to do.
“Drawing from their counsel and that of the leadership of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly and owing to my love for God’s work and the sacred honour of my calling, I have decided to take a leave of absence from the pulpit of the church.
“This step enables me to submit to the concerns of my spiritual mentors as they consider all the issues that have been raised against me.
“Though I do not understand all that is happening, I trust the Lord to lead and guide me one step at a time.”
Read the full statement below:
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That's the right thing to do...Next is to find solace within himself...His first statement did him a lot of damage..I don't know whether he sought legal advice before issuing it...that statement had elements of admission