Oladele Ogundipe, with his
Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Genesis Global parish, is a household name —
following his distinct style which made him more visible than many in his age
range who are spiritual shepherds of ‘white-garment churches’ in Nigeria.
Genesis Global, and/or Prophet
Oladele, as he is fondly called, operated a “white-garment” church in a manner
that appealed even to non-Christians and other religious adherents outside the
CCC.
With frequent use of the social
media, snippets from Ogundipe’s preaching soon became viral contents and many
looked forward to attending his church in the Alakuko area of Lagos.
But things took a dramatic turn
for the prophet on Wednesday when he bagged a two-year jail term for fraud. He
had been on trial since 2011. Olaide Williams-Oni, a UK-based woman, accused
him of defrauding her to the tune of N17 million. He was charged with seven
counts of obtaining by stealing, including delivery of money by false pretence,
unlawful conversion of property and forgery.
We look back at some of the
controversial events that have rocked Ogundipe and his ministry.
ALLOWED GANI ADAMS HOLD
THANKSGIVING IN HIS CHURCH
 |
| A flyer of the event |
In 2017, Gani Adams, a leader of
the O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC) was crowned Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, a
prestigious title in the south-west, and Genesis Global was the venue to bring
his friends to join him in “thanking God”.
The title is purely a traditional
rite and the decision to hold the thanksgiving didn’t sit well with many people
who saw Ogundipe’s seeming liberalism as one step taken too far. However, the
thanksgiving service held and to the consternation of many people, Adams rolled
all over the altar. Commenting on the video of the service uploaded on Youtube,
a church member had said: “Ah! Olorun Bilewu Oshofa!”
Oshofa is the founder of the
Celestial Church Christ (CCC).
While giving his testimony, Adams
described Ogundipe as a “real prophet of the Most High God and a very humble
person”.
Adams during the thanksgiving
He said the prophet had already
prophesied to him that he would become the Aare. He also added that other
prophecies from Ogundipe concerning him had manifested. To those who criticised
Ogundipe for bringing Adams to the church, the prophet asked if they would have
resisted should such a man chose to visit their church for the thanksgiving.
INVITED KWAM 1 TO SING IN HIS CHURCH
 |
| Ogundipe defended the choice of KWAM 1 as guest artiste at the church’s annual harvest in 2019 |
King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, Fuji
musician better known as KWAM 1, performs at political rallies, birthday
parties, house-warming ceremonies and other social functions. But for Ogundipe,
the church is open to all and he proved this when KWAM 1 was the lead guest
artiste at the church’s annual harvest in 2019. It was a harvest of dancing as
the musician entertained them from the pulpit for over one hour.
Ayinde’s invitation had led to a
controversy with some questioning the prophet on allowing a secular musician
mount the “sacred” pulpit.
But Ogundipe had said he likes
Ayinde and he would not pretend about it.
“My mother never met King Wasiu Ayinde before she was praying for him, connecting us together spiritually. When I met King Wasiu Ayinde and he told me ‘Dele, I’ve been watching and hearing a lot about you, prepare for me, I will be at your harvest on the 15th’, I felt so elated,” he had said in an interview.
“I had to change all our sound systems because I want him to enjoy the sound when he sings. So, if you are a Pastor and you are forming, you better stop. Stop pretending and be real. You better let people know who you are. You better let them know where you are coming from. You better let them know where you are going.”
‘FIVE MINUTES S.E.X’ COMMENT
 |
| Ogundipe has thousands of followers within and outside the shores of Nigeria. |
There was an outrage in 2019 when
Ogundipe, in one of his sermons, argued that any meaningful s3x shouldn’t
exceed five minutes. According to him, any man who stays on top of a woman for
30 minutes is nothing “but a mad man”.
“Change your mind; Can I tell you one thing?
S3ex that is over five minutes is no more se3x. Meaningful s3ex should not be more
than five minutes,” he had said.
“Every responsible woman and man
who aspires to be great in future and realises there is a long way to go to
achieve it won’t take pride in engaging in a s3ex romp for over thirty minutes.
If you do, you are a mad man! Your peers count N30 million in thirty minutes.”
Many attacked him, particularly
on social media, but the preacher stood his ground.
REMANDED IN KIRIKIRI PRISON
 |
| Ogundipe was remanded inside this facility in 2010 |
The case with the UK-based Oni
had first thrown Ogundipe into the Kirikiri prison in Lagos. As the case
hearing started in 2010, Ogundipe had refused to appear before the court and
this made the presiding judge issue a warrant for his arrest.
He was, however, later granted
bail.
“When he was brought before the
court two weeks ago, he pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against
him. But the court decided to remand him in prison pending the hearing on his
bail application,” PM News had reported in 2010.
ACCUSED OF ABANDONING MEMBER WHO
GOT BURNT IN HIS CHURCH
 |
| Ogunseye |
Shade Ogunseye, a member of
Ogundipe’s church, was in service with other members when one of the church
workers reportedly sprayed perfume onto lighted candles. Sade was immediately
caught in the ensuing fire and with several burns, her face was deformed.
Although she was taken to the
hospital for initial treatment, according to a petition on the incident,
Ogunseye said her condition deteriorated and she was abandoned. Ogundipe was
later quoted to have said the church would not foot the bill of a surgery for Ogunseye
because the doctors had assured him that the wounds would heal naturally. He
would subsequently threaten Ogunseye and whoever spoke about the matter.
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