Mathew Ashimolowo and Alex
Omokudu, two Nigerian pastors based in the United Kingdom (UK), have been
accused of enriching themselves through church wealth.
According to The Sun, a British
Tabloid, the men are living lavishly at the expense of members of their
congregation which largely consists of average income earners.
Ashimolowo’s Kingsway
International Christian Centre (KICC) which was established in 1992 in the UK,
is said to have £16.4m in assets, £500,000 in the bank and rakes in more than
£8m in revenue a year.
 |
Ashimolowo’s church in East London
|
The church’s “prayer city” house
in Kent, allegedly makes £6.3m a year from tithing derived from members who
give up 10 percent of their salary.
According to the report, 1,000
volunteers provide the church with over 300,000 hours of free labour, which is
worth an estimated £2 million annually.
Ashimolowo is said to be residing
at the church-owned £1.1 million nine-bedroom mansion in Essex, with another
£600,000 property in the same location.
 |
Ashimolowo’s £1.1 million nine-bedroom mansion in Essex
|
“Many of the faithful worshippers
are sold on the promise of unlimited success, prosperity, and a miraculous cure
from various kinds of sicknesses and diseases,” the report read.
The newspaper said one of its
reporters listened to a sermon of the pastor, entitled ‘The Power of the
Tithe’. He reportedly listed 14 reasons why worshippers should donate 10
percent of their income to the church.
Ashimolowo was quoted as telling
the congregation: “If you do not pay the tithe, it is like you do not really
trust God.”
He was said to have labelled the
money an “insurance against Satan” and warned of the dire consequences of
non-payment.
Early in 2017, KICC was brought
under investigation for an alleged £3.9 million fraud linked to an investment
scheme involving Richard Rufus, a former premier league footballer.
The church denied any involvement
in the investment deal that went bad.
 |
| Pastor Omokudu |
Omokudu, founder of Victorious
Pentecostal Assembly (VPA), launched his church located in Barking, East
London, in 2005. The newspaper said the pastor owns two property in a posh part
of Essex – a nine-bedroom house worth £2 million, and another £600,000
building.
The nine-bedroom mansion is said
to house five reception rooms, a swimming pool, a sauna and a 250 feet garden.
 |
| Omokudu’s mansion Honrchurch, Essex |
Omokudu is also said to have paid
£1 million for his church building in Barking, with branches in Birmingham,
Manchester, Bradford and Luton.
“Omokudu’s claim to fame is his
‘ability’ to perform miraculous cures on his parishioners and others who
present themselves for his healing sessions,” the report read.
“During one church service, the
pastor who is called ‘Daddy’ by worshippers was heard pressuring members to
give all their money to God.”
He was quoted as saying: “God
wants you to give all your money to Him… give all your money to Him. The church
of VPA and Pastor Alex Omokudu will deliver you prosperity.”
Our investigation found Omokudu
bought the property for £1m with the help of a loan from London-based Kenyan
national called Kennedy Kulei.
Last year, the pastor – who
previously described separation as a sin – reportedly divorced from his wife of
15 years and later married a Russian woman nearly 30 years his junior.
He explained the decision to his
followers, saying in an interview: “I have already remarried. I did not want to
remarry but God said I should get out of it and consoled me.”
The Sun said both churches failed
to respond to requests for comment.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt is only gullible fools that fall for these scammers called pastors and "men of God" antics. The other one looks like an armed robber or kidnapper self!
ReplyDeleteReligion still remain the opium of the masses. We lack education but don't know we don't need it to be intelligent.
ReplyDelete