SEX SCANDAL HANDLING: TWO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COZA AND FOURSQUARE CASES

Biodun Fatoyinbo | Boniface Igbeneghu 

Two major sex scandals have rocked the Nigerian church this year.

First, the Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo was publicly accused by popular photographer and mother of three, Mrs. Busola Dakolo during an online interview she granted in July to make the accusssation. In the video interview, she said Fatoyinbo raped her in 2002 at her family's residence at Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria, an incident which she says has negatively affected her emotionally and maritally since then. She has since sued Fatoyinbo to court while the Nigeria Police Force still investigates the matter.
In response to social media backlash against him and personal requests he says were made to him by his mentors, Pastor Fatoyinbo had stepped down from ministering at his church but soon resumed full active ministerial duties again after about one month. Both Fatoyinbo's wife and Dakolo's husband continue to support and stand by them.

Secondly, one Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, an associate professor at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and also a part time pastor at Foursquare Gospel Church was recently implicated in a 'sex-for-grades' scandal in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary. The BBC made the discovery through an undercover 17-year-old female operative who is reported to have been seeking admission into the institution. In the documentary by BBC's reporter, Kiki Mordi, the female operative named Kemi had in a secretly-filmed video recorded Dr. Igbeneghu justifying 'sex-for-grades', and making repeated sexual advances at Kemi in his office.

Dr. Igbeneghu has not been charged to court, but in the documentary, Mordi claims that he has been confronted with the video but he made no comment.
In a statement released recently by the National Secretary of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, the church has condemned in strong terms the actions of Dr. Igbeneghu and also suspended him from all ministerial activities.

Both cases have been the subject of physical and social media protests against sexual assault in Nigeria since each news broke. Understandably also, there has been a strong backlash against churches and pastors in their handling of sexual assault cases and their participation in the crime respectively.

Personally, I condemn in the strongest terms every form of sexual assault. This menace is ungodly, inhuman, and is a well-known factor that has caused serious emotional and psychological damages to both male and female victims all around the world, and especially in Nigeria.
I also hold the view that while it is debatable that there may be reasons for sexual assault, there is however no justification whatsoever for sexual assault. As such, it is highly condemnable and should be punished severely.

Currently, there is so much talk within social media circles, praising Foursquare Gospel Church for their handling of the Dr. Igbeneghu case, while condemning COZA for their handling of the Pastor Fatoyinbo case. People are happy that FOURSQUARE has condemned their pastor's actions and has suspended him also, but are unhappy that Pastor Fatoyinbo of COZA continues to serve as senior pastor till now. I certainly do not intend to take any sides on these issues publicly as they are criminal cases, and fall within the purview of relevant criminal justice agencies of government. However, I'd like to highlight the differences between both cases with the hope that it will give better insight to participants in this ongoing debate about sexual assault cases and how they are being handled.

First, Pastor Fatoyinbo is the founder, spiritual head and the most senior pastor of his church COZA, while Dr. Igbeneghu is a pastor at one of the local churches in FOURSQUARE.

Secondly, Fatoyinbo was accused mainly by word-of-mouth of a crime that allegedly happened about 20 years ago without any hard evidence known to the public yet. Meanwhile, Igbeneghu was not just accused but has been implicated by hard evidence made public, obtained while the alleged incident was occurring. This is a major difference which I think underscores the handling of both cases by COZA and FOURSQUARE respectively.

It remains to be seen what the outcome of these two cases will be. But there must be a sustained campaign against all forms of violence against women and all those who are vulnerable.

Thank you.



Chukwubuikem Paul Anunaso is a civil/structural engineer who is passionate about social equity and women's rights. He is the editor of The Paul Anunaso Blog (www.paulanunaso.blogspot.com). He can be reached at anunaso.cp@gmail.com