Sex Scandal: Church Members, Mentees Voice Disappointments as COZA Pastor Fails to Clear the Air

A gale of disappointments had swept through the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) as church several members and other well-wishers recently left disappointed when the Senior Pastor, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo failed to clear the air on the raging sex allegations levelled against him by some former female members of his church, especially from one Ese Walter.

Ese Walter, a former member-cum-worker of the church, had claimed in what she termed ''true confession’’, on her blog, that Pastor Fatoyinbo had carnal knowledge of her in an undisclosed London hotel, during the pastor's visit to the UK.

Just after the confession had gone viral on the internet, many church members, mentees and the media sought to have the pastor react to the damaging allegations. And the church chose on the 25th August, which was on Sunday, to address the issue.

Confirming this to Christendom Newspaper on the phone, the Church Administrator Officer, who simply gave his name as Tayo said, when asked about the church's side of the story: ’' Thank you very much for asking for our side of the story. We really appreciate that. God bless you! At the church service tomorrow (referring to August 25th) all issues relating to that will be solved even before the end of the service''.

However, this was not to be as the pastor chose never to talk about it. Church members, well-wishers and newsmen, who had thronged to the church in their numbers, to hear the pastor's side of the allegation, were left confused, unimpressed and disappointed.

Just when the people were expecting a form of clarification or denial from the Senior Pastor of the wave-making church in Abuja, the pastor released a bombshell: ‘’Now you may sit down and say, why would they tell you that, in the first place. From the pulpit, there are some things we do not say. Maybe you remember that two years ago, we lost somebody in our family, i came, i danced, i didn't say it. That was even deeper for me because my destiny is not in anybody's hands. That loss was deeper for me than even this and i didn't talk so don't think it is a make-up. This is what we have been asked to do. When we asked God, God said be quiet. Thank you’’.

Shortly after this statement, the entire church erupted in thunderous clapping and shouting.

Speaking to Christendom Newspaper recently, a COZA member, who pleaded strict anonymity, confided in the Newspaper when he said: ''What he (pastor) said has neither cleared him of the said allegation nor established the fact that he actually did it. That is not what i went there to hear. I went to church that day to listen to Pastor's Biodun's outright denial or clarification. But i rather left more confused and disappointed. With this, i am made to be partially convinced that he (Pastor) did what he was accused of ''.

Also speaking, a middle-aged woman, who claimed to be a member of COZA for more than two years asked: ''What was he trying to hide? Does he think we (church members) are babies? While i am not trying to believe he actually did it, i am convinced that something was fishing. He has been my pastor for years and i see him as a spiritual father and mentor. Then, if he could not clarify issues in clear terms, then i wonder who else we could trust. If the people we look up to are falling, what then happens to those who are looking up to them as models of holiness and righteousness?''

While speaking, another church member, who gave her name as Oluchi said: ''Pastor Biodun is a good preacher, who often preaches against sinfulness and worldliness. He preaches with accurate precision, backed up with the Scriptures. But i was surprised to hear that allegation about him. And today, i was expecting him to clarify issues; to outrightly deny or apologize but he didn't. I'm left more confused than i was before attending the church service. But why can't the preachers and religious leaders walk their talk? Why would he preach one thing but do the opposite? I don't know what or who else to believe''.

Others who spoke to Christendom Newspaper were of the opinion that the best thing the pastor could do to regain the lost trust and good reputation among his numerous fans, mentees and church members is to either own up or totally deny the allegations with concrete proofs. That the diplomatic stunts the pastor is trying to pull would not help in salvaging his already-dented reputation, that of his church and the entire Body of Christ.

''This is not the time to be diplomatic or use a principle of Public Relations. It is the time to confess or totally deny it. He should let the people know what really transpired-either he did it or not. Leaving the people between the lines will not help. Somebody accused you of doing something and you are saying God said you should not talk. That is ridiculous! Even a kid will not say that. You need to state your own side of the story .Didn't he know the position of God and the Bible on extra-marital sex? Only God knows who truly worship Him. This will have a negative effect on his church and the entire Christendom'', Charles Chukwuemeka submitted.

Adeniyi Samuel, a Christian, who sees the pastor as his respected mentor believes the statement uttered by the pastor is nothing but a make-up and as an attempt to sweep under the carpet such a heinous crime that possesses the tendency of making mockery of Christianity by faithful of opposite religions.

His words: ''That statement was nothing but a make-up. It is a tacit attempt to sweep the crime under the carpet. The truth must come out. This issue must be addressed''.

The visibly angry mentee of the pastor, who expressed total disappointment at the whole allegation said further: '' This issue is deeper than losing a member of one’s family. Death is a common occurrence in everyone's life. Nobody can't stigmatize you for losing a loved one. But the issue of a sex scandal involving a church founder and a man of God, whom many see as a mentor and spiritual father, is deeper, contrary to what Pastor Biodun claimed. It is much deeper because it drags the name of the Church, Christianity and Jesus Christ in the mud. It is so unfortunate!''

Ese Walter, who had come under intense condemnations since her post went viral on the internet recently, said she had submitted the 58-minute recording of the sex scandal to an undisclosed '' respected man of God''.