Society Gists

The leadership of Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) has said that the attacks on its founder, Biodun Fatoyinbo, are the handiwork of pastors who feel threatened by the church’s growth.

This was contained in a statement by Ademola Adetuberu, Executive Senior Assistant to Pastor Fatoyinbo, seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.

“We see this ugly development fuelled by envy and sheer jealousy as an unnecessary distraction and a fight from the pit of hell against the ministry that God gave Rev Biodun Fatoyinbo, as well as the declaration of war against the Church of Christ to which COZA is a flourishing branch under God’s grace,” his statement read.

“Following unprovoked satanic campaign of calumny orchestrated against the leadership and members of COZA by agents of darkness. We are not unaware that certain pastors who feel threatened by the unprecedented growth of COZA and the grace of God upon His servant are after some of our members,” the statement said.

COZA, however, said it does not support rape or sexual molestation in any form. It said it, in fact, stood with rape victims, as well as with Mr Fatoyinbo, who it said was a victim of organised blackmail.

Mr Adetuberu also said Busola, wife of popular singer, Timi Dakolo, who instituted a rape allegation suit against the embattled cleric, would soon face justice. He insisted that Mr Fatoyinbo had no intimate relationship with her.

The statement is coming a day after Mr Fatoyinbo asked an Abuja High Court to dismiss the suit instituted against him by his accuser.

Mr Fatoyinbo’s request is stated in his preliminary objection dated September 20 which was filed through his lawyer, Alex Izinyon.

He also said he wants an order of the court to dismiss the suit for “being statute barred and incompetent.”

He also said Mrs Dakolo’s case against him is an abuse of judicial process. He further prayed for an award cost of N50 million to be paid to him.

Backstory

Mrs Dakolo had approached the court to seek redress in the allegation made against Mr Fatoyinbo.

Following an application, dated September 6, by Mrs. Dakolo through her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi & Co., the court ordered Mr Fatoyinbo or his counsel to appear before it within 14 days after receiving the summons by the court.

In the application, Mrs Dakolo had wanted Mr Fatoyinbo to issue a public apology to her for the alleged assault committed in 2002.

Mrs Dakolo, who accused the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) of assaulting her in 2002 before she became 18, also wants Mr Fatoyinbo to pay her N10 million as the cost of instituting the suit.