COZA: Why Pastor Fatoyinbo didn't attend PFN hearing on Dakolo's rape accusation

Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo

Biodun Fatoyinbo, the senior pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) has reacted to the statement credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Emma Isong. In the statement by the PFN official which was made after the body concluded its investigations into the rape allegations openly leveled against Fatoyinbo by popular photographer Busola Dakolo, while declaring the committee's findings inconclusive, Isong had said that it was so because Fatoyinbo snubbed the committee that was set up by the PFN to look into the matter and didn't appear before it despite calls and invitations sent to him through multiple sources, requesting his presence before the committee.

Busola Dakolo

Meanwhile, Busola Dakolo, on invitation by the committee, appeared before it with her husband Timi Dakolo to testify.

Pastor Fatoyinbo and wife at COZA

However, in a statement by COZA, the church said, “Our attention has been drawn to a press briefing made by the National Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Emma Isong, where he reportedly disclosed that the investigation into the rape allegations leveled against the Founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth Of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, was declared inconclusive due to our Pastor’s failure to appear before the investigative panel set up by the body.

We recall that when Pastor Fatoyinbo was invited by a phone call few days ago by Pastor Akinola Akinwale, who is the National Administrative Secretary of PFN, we explained that our Pastor would not honour the invitation due to legal advice hinged on the ongoing Police investigation.

The legal advice was also premised on the Press Statement issued and personally signed by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, where our Pastor was publicly disowned. Based on the foregoing, we are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the PFN was already prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session.

Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude

According to the report, Rev Omobude, whom we hold in high esteem, went further to crucify our Pastor without seeking to know his side of the story on the matter. With all due respect, we consider this a prejudicial position in dispensing justice and fairness.

Even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was given an opportunity for fair hearing by the Kangaroo Panel set up with the prime motive of condemning Him to death.

Up till today, there was never any written invitation from the panel or the PFN leadership, apart from the telephone call in which we explained why our Pastor could not come, requesting him officially to appear before the panel. A few days ago, a National Officer of the PFN, who spoke to our Senior Lawyer, was informed of the basis why Pastor Fatoyinbo was advised not to appear before the PFN’s panel until the Police investigation into the matter was concluded.

Once the Police investigation is over, our Pastor is ready to honour the invitation.

We have also been legally advised to deploy judicial intervention to clear our Pastor as soon as possible, and the process has commenced in earnest. We appreciate those who stood and are still standing by us. It is our hope that the truth shall prevail at the end.

We urge the media to give this press statement the prominence it deserves, and to disseminate same to members of the public”.

Mrs Busola Dakolo is accusing Pastor Fatoyinbo of raping her many years ago at her family's residence, while she was a teenager. At the time, he was her pastor.