Crime News
South Africa CRL Threatens To Jail Pastor Chris Oyakhilome For Refusing To Reveal Financial Records
Nov 26, 2015 – South Africa CRL Threatens To Jail Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Over Refusal To Reveal Financial Records
South Africa’s Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) has threatened a jail term for Chris Oyakhilome if his church, Christ Embassy, fails to release its financial records.
Several controversial religious leaders could also face prison if they do not adhere to the demands of the Commission.
Commission head Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva told News24 she had already asked the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to advise on their next legal course of action.
“We are forced to take the legal route because some of them are not complying and we cannot be held [to] ransom by a few,” she told News24.
The Commission is investigating the commercialisation of religion and the abuse of people’s beliefs. It has summoned several religious organisations to appear before them.
All those summoned to the hearings were required to produce their ordination certificate, the church registration certificate, bank statements and the annual financial statements dating from 2012.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said they were also looking at possibly filing charges of intimidation against some of the religious leaders who have threatened the commission publicly.
“Some of these religious leaders will face prison if they do not comply and we have been clear about our course of action. Some religious leaders have also threatened the commission, which is leading us toward the legal route. Saps have been notified already,” she said.
She said she could not understand why some pastors who took money from their followers were now unable to provide the commission with financial records.
“These people take money from people. What are they doing with that money? We want to know. We will not back down,” she said.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said Christ Embassies Pastor Chris Oyakhilome had indicated that he would fight the commission in court before he released his records.
“If he intends on that route, we are ready. He will have to face the same fate as the others who refuse to hand over their financial records,” she said.
[Reported By News 24]
Steve Onuh
November 26, 2015 at 4:42 PM
Try it first and see if your country will not turn into ashes
Touch not mine anonited says the lord
wale
November 26, 2015 at 5:03 PM
ask those who have tried it before and see their end. you can not fight God ask Paul. they will become history, the church is marching on.haaaaa!
Eesa
November 26, 2015 at 5:34 PM
She is right. These pastors must know that the well beings of their followers must be taken care of. That’s y God made them reacher,some even gets angry if their followers do not pay their 10% or thanks given offer. They task d followers too much. Y? imagine a pastor given out hug money and cars to already belly-filled Person, some one whom has seen money and wealth, u r stil adding to their filled thank. What does dat means? They show less concerned to d poor and try to b more influential by getting closer to d rich. If he refused, he should b jailed including other pastors who refuses to conform to d laid down rules. Afterall its their followers money.
Eesa
November 26, 2015 at 5:36 PM
She is right. These pastors must know that the well beings of their followers must be taken care of. That’s y God made them reacher,some even gets angry if their followers do not pay their 10% or thanks given offer. They task d followers too much. Y? imagine a pastor giving out hug money and cars to already belly-filled Person, some one whom has seen money and wealth, u r stil adding to their filled thank. What does dat means? They show less concerned to d poor and try to b more influential by getting closer to d rich. If he refused, he should b jailed including other pastors who refuses to conform to d laid down rules. Afterall its their followers money.
UZOMA
November 26, 2015 at 6:28 PM
This is what obtains in a country where there is sanity. In advanced and civilized countries, Churches are obliged to have an open book. Some of the so called or self acclaimed men of God in Nigeria are taking the people for a ride. They are taking advantage of the economic situation to rob the people blind. South Africa is on the right course. Remember this applies to South African pastors too.
EGBERRI MAMA 1
November 26, 2015 at 9:44 PM
D SAME GOD SAYS ” GIVE TO CEASER WHAT BELONGS TO CEASER ” D BIBLE SAYS ” JUDGEMENT WILL START FROM D ALTER ” D GOVT NEVER SAID BRING ALL D MONEY ,IT ONLY SAYS ” REVEAL YOUR FINANCIAL RECORDS ” I KNOW THERE IS NO RECEIPT FOR TITHES AND OFFERINGS , SO JUST SHOW THEM D ONE YOU WANT TO AND THAT IS D END OF WAHALA .IF THIS STORY IS REALLY TRUE , IT,S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BCOS WHEN D devil ENTERS INTO A MAN,S MATRIMONY AND SUCCEEDES , D devil penetrates every other areas of d man,s life. MAY GOD HV MERCY AND REDIRECT OUR FOOT-STEPS IJN .
Jilo
November 26, 2015 at 9:44 PM
Thanks for this commission under the leadership of Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluwa for letting people aware of something that was hidden. Transparency and Accountability should not be limited to politics alone but in all our organization including our house of worship. This commission had noticed some irregularities in how church money was being spent. I have mentioned this times without number that we need to aware of what is going on around us. Congregation should no longer be fooled by hiding under
expression “Touch not my anointed” Leadership in Churches, Mosque or any religion organization must account for how they spent people’s money. There are some Pastors and men of God around the world who have been prosecuted and locked up because they mismanaged people’s hard earned money so, Pastor Chris church should not be an exemption. If this request is too much for Chris Embassy, then he has an option of either relocate the Church back to Nigeria where there is no law or where church money can be diverted it into personal account. Church money is not personal money, People’s donation must be fully accounted for and well spent.
OSCAR TEDDY
November 26, 2015 at 9:52 PM
Ha-ha-ha is this south Africa way of paying Back for the MTN Billion naira fine they are asked to pay nigeria for Breach of contract?
My advice to nigerian pastors in south Africa.you are the target. SHINE YOUR EYES.
Omevwe(I am)
November 27, 2015 at 1:21 PM
I remember wen I was doing Diploma in Law at University of Benin. Edo state.I was born an Anglican but I decided 2 go 2 Believer’s Love World aka Christ Embassy after much persuasion frm my room mate.Wen I got there dat Sunday we were welcomed as new comer’s,given a form 2 fill & we were told dat for us to b mmber’s,we must attend foundation school,dat afta graduation frm d foundation school,u can work wit d certificate in any of their offices.So I dcided 2 attend snce is sunday’s morning by 6am,just to know wat’s all about.At d bgini of the foundation school, it was the same doctrine with dat of Anglican Church,but wen it came to their doctrine of giving,I had problem with my Sunday sch teacher,she said & I quote,”u must giv money 2 GOD on Sunday’s,weather u like it or not”Dats wen I ask her on my way 2 church on Sunday & I have 1knaira, dat I was supose 2 use 4 offering on me, & I see some1 sick & dying,& dat 1knaira ll save his/her life can I help?she said no dat I must bring d money 2 church,dat GOD ll send some1 else to d person.I told her dat I prefer 2 help d prson in need dat I see rather than putting d money in dat offering box bcos some oda members ll giv offering dat day,she told me if I dnt bring d 1knaira 2 church,GOD ll purnish me.I argued wit her on dat giving message,frm dat day she dint like me.Me I nor send her.U ll b forced 2 make a vow in church,in d mrning wen u wake up planning & thinking of wat u ll eat,sms ll just flash in2 ur phone frm d resident pastor customize nmba,reminding u 2 go & redeem ur vow,nly 4 me 2 call d same number,so I can xplain dat I dnt av food to eat,d nmba ll neva go thru.Dat nmba is just 4 sending bulk mails after wish dey ll switch it off.All their teacher’s & Pastor’s get sense,dem sabi brain wash.Abeg na my heart GOD dey look,no b my pocket.Madam pls ask dem to show the financial report.Cos some yrs ago,a man in Nigeria stole some millions of naira frm d company where he was worked as a manager,he used part of the stolen money to buy generating plants & sow seed 2 one of the christ embassy branches in Lagos,wen he was arrested,he confessed dats wat he used d money stolen 4.D company owner sued d head of christ embassy Chris onyakilome to see if he can recover the money,chris wen interviews on 1 of d news paper’s then,he said dat he dnt know the man personally.He was not the 1 who ask him to steal.Till 2day dat man is still in prison.People,WISE UP
odunlade niyi
November 28, 2015 at 6:33 AM
Touch not my anointed God said live dan too me
Nyabi Richard
December 3, 2015 at 1:27 AM
HONESTLY, I LIKE THE TEACHINGS OF PASTOR CHRIST BUT I THINK WHAT THE COMMISSION IS DOING IS RIGHT. JUSTIFY WHAT YOU’RE USING THE PEOPLES MONEY FOR
THE VARIOUS LOCAL CHURCHES DO RENDER ACCOUNTS TO THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HEADS.WHAT PREVENTS A PASTOR. FROM DECLARING THE ACCOUNTS OF THE CHURCH?
TO THE COMMISSION, IF YOU’RE PUSHING A DEMONIC AGENDER GOD WOULD DEAL WITH U.ON THE OTHER HAND IT WOULD CHECK THE INACTIONS OF THE PASTORS BECAUSE IN REALITY SOME PASTORS DO EXTORT
Akinlawrence
December 4, 2015 at 4:35 PM
if that is d system of their country,Pastors shu abide.God knos how to fight for is true servants.