The Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo has said the reason he declined appearing before a panel which is investigating his alleged rape of Busola Dakolo was that he was not convinced of the impartiality of the panel.
Fatoyinbo in a statement signed by his Executive Senior Assistant Ademola Adetuberu, also noted that he was considering exploring the judiciary to defend himself.
Recall that the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) had set up a panel to investigate the rape allegation levelled against Pastor Fatoyinbo by Busola Dakolo, wife of Timi Dakolo.
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At the heat of the allegation, protest rocked various cities in Nigeria, demanding that the Pastor steps down from the pulpit for a proper investigation into the allegation.
Meanwhile, in a statement, PFN investigation panel accused Pastor Fatoyinbo of not appearing before it to defend himself.
Reacting to that, Fatoyinbo through his spokesperson, 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 levelled 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 Panel.
“We recall that when Pastor Fatoyinbo was invited by a phone call a 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 a reasonable doubt that the PFN was already prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session”.
The statement further lamented that the PFN President Reverend Omobude had consistently criticised Pastor Fatoyinbo without seeking to know his side of the story.
“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”, the statement noted.
Furthermore, the statement said “even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was given an opportunity for a 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 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”
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