Entertainment News
Funke Adejumo: Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo Is My Spiritual Son
Funke Adejumo: Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo Is My Spiritual Son
Rev (Mrs.) Funke Felix-Adejumo, the spiritual mother of embattled Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, has revealed how she and others convinced founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) to take a leave of absence following accusations of rape.
Fatoyinbo took a leave of absence last Monday as senior pastor of the Abuja-based church following outcries and protests that greeted accusation by celebrity photographer, Busola Dakolo, the preacher raped her at 16.
The Kwara-born preacher considers Rev Felix Adejumo, the general overseer of Agape Christian Ministries, Akure and his wife, Funke as spiritual mentors.
There have pressures on them to come out clean on the accusations against their beloved spiritual son, who has invited them countless times to his church.
Reacting on Thursday, Mrs. Felix-Adejumo, in a post on her Instagram page, sympathised with those whose trust has been abused by the development.
According to her, so much went behind-the-scenes before Fatoyinbo offered to step aside.
She wrote:
“The past few days have been heavy, not just in a general sense of a national reckoning but in a very personal sense as some of us who Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, the founder of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly considers leaders and mentors in the faith have worked quietly behind the scenes following the serious allegations of rape made by Busola Dakolo.
“It has taken me time to speak publicly about this because work first had to be done to enable the process of resolution.
“This was the more urgent, personal task. Today, I am thankful to God for the counsel that has seen Biodun step down to allow the process of fact finding, healing, restitution and justice continue.
“Also so that the congregation that God has entrusted into our hands are guided with love, integrity and wisdom.
“The house of God should remain a safe space for all. No form of abuse should have a place in God’s house.
“My deepest sympathy is with everyone who has experienced broken trust from the church. Busola; every girl. Every boy; every child, man or woman.
“The church is embracing accountability – and it is exactly as Jesus has requested that we must.”
Sanusi Tope
July 4, 2019 at 3:47 PM
I have lost all my respect from Mrs Adejumo for saying dis rapist is her mentee
DB
July 4, 2019 at 6:08 PM
So if your child misbehaves in whatever form, you will throw him away? If you have a mentor, can you boldly say you do exactly as you are told?
ANONYMOUS
July 5, 2019 at 2:51 AM
I just want to believe you didn’t actually say this dumbass…why don’t Nigerians just think b4 they leap…the busola dakolo is just a devil utensils…who has nothing to Offer to God’s ministry than to destroy the believe of people from men of God…Busola is a big liar follow all the interview as a psychologist…how can a man rape you on the bonnet of a car outside in the broad day light…what sense does that make to you…how can a man rape you and you wont scream for help …no matter how tiny you can be…even if you cant struggle…NIGERIANS THINK THINK THINK
Jojo
July 4, 2019 at 8:25 PM
This statement from this woman kind of confirms the fact that the pastor actually did it cos the issue of restitution will not come to play if no sin has been committed. Na wa for all these emergency pastors. Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Anonymous
July 5, 2019 at 1:22 AM
All this so called men of God are just scamming their gullible followers.
Mon
July 5, 2019 at 5:34 AM
So much about this issue, in as much as I am not on the side of most Nigeria pastors because they are fake and working hand in hand with politicians to keep people in darkness, there are some questions begging for answers from this accusation. If she was 16 at the time of the incident, how old was the guy? Were they in any kind of relationship by then?
Yes, we can understand how reserved, fragile, sensitive and emotional some women can be, and when they eventually regain themselves after intercourse with their male friend, not a lover, they always regret it, that’s the only thing I suspected to be the case here, and only two of them know what they promised to each other, so, maybe, she made that revelation to forgive empty herself.
The global village the World is turning into is somehow dangerous to some developing countries, by the time this incident happened, what transpired between these two people may not be seen as rape, in the western world today, a woman can easily accuse you of anything if you mistakenly touch her body without her approval.
It’s unfortunate that we are not catching up with things that matter, but cow and ruga.
angelsarewatching
July 5, 2019 at 8:53 AM
Apparently…..for this issue to just be coming out now indicates that there have been one form of blackmail that fails to work…both parties have met and discussed this issue before bursting it up to the detriment of Christendom. lets pray devil do not use us for the inglorious embarrassment of his glory.
Jilo
July 5, 2019 at 2:04 PM
Fantastic! this woman said there are many things going on behind the scene before Fatoyinbo finally agreed to step aside to allow a resolution and restitution about the case. Folks, this case is going no where because the church will eventually buy this lady out not to press further charges against Fatoyinbo. Restitution in legal definition is money paid for something taken illegally. In this case, Busola may be compensated for losing her virginity not to the man of her choice. Again,stepping aside by this man does mean he has finally stepped down from the ministry. Leave of absent simply means, take a leave to go on vacation or to take off from work for a while. I have taken many leave of absent from my job before. He is still the founder and general overseer of that church, either if he is there physically or in absentia he will still continue to get his unrestraint income organized by the junior pastors.
Contrarily, I have read some comments where some commenters were doubting the credibility of Busola allegation. They raised two valid points that make sense that, how could nobody hear about the struggle? and for the fact that one of her sisters was at home at that time. Did she put on a little resistance or she just allowed him to have access to her just because he was her Pastor. Also why did she let it happened the second time within a week. I watched this entire interview myself which I could have questioned her on that. Everybody reasons on different levels and respect some people’s opinions. There is a possibility that this Pastor may get away with this in the court system because in many rape cases, it is very hard for rape to happen twice. Fatoyinbo lawyer can do that depending how good he/she is. The only way Busola will proof this in the court that this is a Rape is to convince the court that he used some juju on her which is not admissible in the Court of law but possible by some of these fake Babalawo Pastors. Morealso, by letting this happened twice really let some of her supporters felt that this is not actually a rape but a relationship which later turned sour because of unfulfilled promised. I remembered the host ask her the same question which Busola replied that her Sisters forced her to go and help the Pastor’s Wife as domestic help because they saw that as honor for a Pastor to request one of the church members for help. That was how he took advantage of her for the second time in a row. If she has summoned courage to tell her sisters what had happened before, may be they might have rescinded their decision on pressuring her to follow that Pastor that day. There are going to be more questioning and cross examining of this case if it eventually go through the court system.
Finally, in as much there are many loopholes in this case, still, it is not a good idea for any leader of Religion, be it a Pastor or Imam to have canal knowledge of used their position to sexually violate female members. It is sinful especially when that individual has married at that time. Remember, Fatoyinbo’s wife was nursing a baby at that time. If you want to do God’s work fine! then you must be ready and spiritually discipline in preparation for a temptation like this. If anyone order than the Pastors have done that, people would have not reacted as much as they did because of the trust the people have in men of God. This showed that their Pastor is not worth to be depended upon, he is dishonest, not straight forward and unclean, all these are really matters in religion setting. We should not place these Pastor high more than their worth. We should all detest sin and say the truth no matter how hurt it is. It is ignorant for people to be playing double standard that these Pastors are also human whenever they commit any sinful acts but when they mount the pulpit they are next to God. If they are human, they should not be above the law and they should be punished just like any other humans.