The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has
commenced investigation into rape allegations against COZA pastor, Biodun
Fatoyinbo.
In a letter sent to singer Timi
Dakolo last week, the Christian umbrella body said it has constituted a
committee to look into circumstances surrounding the allegations levelled
against Fatoyinbo by his wife, Busola Dakolo.
According to the letter, the committee which has Rev. Wilson Badejo as
Chairman, with Bishop Vincent Iyawe and Rev. Collins Ilechukwu as members, is
tasked with the responsibility to establish the veracity of the claims and
recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary.
Reacting to this development, the
advocacy group, Not In My Church, which has helped to share the viral stories
of survivors and kickstarted a national conversation, has appealed to all those
who might have suffered the same fate in the hands of the COZA minister, to
come forward and share their stories . The group has promised to provide any
victim willing to come forward access to professional counseling.
The advocacy group says it is
expected that beyond this committee, the PFN and the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) will have a publicly accessible Code of Conduct and a standing
committee to review issues of abuse of power leading to different types of
abuse in the church. The organization has further made a formal petition the
PFN to implement certain strong measures that send a clear signal to the church
and to society about the seriousness of sexual violence, and the actions the
church will not tolerate under any condition.
Amongst the demands of the group
include the following:
i. The accused steps down from
the pulpit for 6 months - 5 years, depending on the gravity of the offense,
during which he cannot preach on any other pulpit, or until a conclusion of a
legal process.
ii. The accused and their spouse
take a leave of absence from the Board of Trustees of the church for as long as
they are off the pulpit.
iii. The accused apologizes
publicly – specifically to those whose allegations are in the public domain and
generally to others that have been sexually abused or otherwise by virtue of
their position as a pastor.
iv. The accused enrols in a
sexual abuse programme at a globally reputed centre.
v. Sufficient monetary
compensation for psychological, medical, legal and economic losses accrued to
survivors.
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