Fatoyinbo returns to pulpit – TheNigerialawyer

The Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA,
Biodun Fatoyinbo, returned to the pulpit on Sunday to a rousing
welcome from his congregation.

The controversial pastor made the come back a month after he
announced that he would be ”taking a leave of absence from the
pulpit of the church.”

Mr Fatoyinbo’s sermon which was screened live on the church’s
official Instagram page was not publicised on the days leading to
Sunday.

The COZA senior pastor delivered a sermon titled ‘Sudden
victories’ in a packed church auditorium amidst cheers and
intermittent screams from his congregants.

The cleric has held Nigerian headlines since June when the
interview of one of his alleged victims, Busola, wife of popular
singer, Timi Dakolo, was made public.

On Sunday, he focused his sermon on the books of 1st Timothy
6:12; Mark 4:35-37 and 1st Corinthians 10:13.

Mr Fatoyinbo, who was clad in a simple white kaftan, said it was
written in the Bible that Christians would always face persecution,
but God would ensure that they are victorious.

He said, “As a Christian, you must face opposition. If God, who
is holy and faithful has enemies, you are sure going to have.”

The cleric said most times when faced with troubles, Christians
have the tendency to call everyone except God for help.

He noted that the reason most Christians fail is that they
address challenging circumstances on the surface, instead of
addressing the root of the matter, which is the enemy and putting
him in his place.

”in wrestling, any method can be used. When faced with
challenging circumstances, pray, fast, decree, confess and prophesy
God’s victory over your life.

“Most contrary situations around you are set up by the enemy to
cripple your faith and keep you on a spot,” he preached.

He also prophesied that his parishioners would witness victory
in the new month of August.

The development comes just as a member of the church’s board,
Obafemi Banigbe, resigned on July 19.

Mr Banigbe, a telecom professional, tendered his resignation in
a letter addressed to the Senior Pastor of the church.

Mr Bamigbe resigned almost three weeks after the embattled
pastor announced that he would be “taking a leave of absence from
the pulpit of the church.”

At the time, Mr Fatoyinbo said he took the decision after
consulting with several spiritual leaders around the world and the
leadership of COZA.

The controversial pastor has held Nigerian headlines since June
when the interview of one of his alleged victims, Busola, wife of
popular singer, Timi Dakolo was made public.

Mrs Dakolo revealed her ordeal in a YouTube interview with Chude
Jideonwo published on June 28 on the channel, YNaija.

She alleged that the clergyman raped her in Ilorin, Kwara State
when she was 16.

Many Nigerians have asked that the police and the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) investigate the case.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and some public figures have
also called for a thorough investigation.

The preacher denied the allegations, saying in an official
church statement that he had never raped a woman “even as an
unbeliever.”

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Again, ICPC Recovers N117m worth of Constituency Project
from another Senator

In its continuing effort at ensuring the satisfactory execution
and completion of all Constituency Projects across the country
through the Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG) initiative,
the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) has again recovered items worth N117,123,375.44
million from the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial
District of Enugu State.

The items covered by this amount and recovered from the
legislator are 168 and 51 numbers of motorcycles and tricycles
respectively. They were discovered to be stashed away in a compound
in Mkpologu town of Uzo-Nwani Local Government Area, believed to be
owned by the Senator.

ICPC findings indicated clearly that the contract for the
procurement of the items was awarded on 23rd January 2018, under
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the Senator’s
constituency projects.

Investigations have also shown that the companies awarded the
contracts for the project are as follows: Al-Amir Int. Ltd.,
Du-Lumac Ltd., Com Technologies System Ltd. and Chumax Agency
Ltd.

Additionally, ICPC recovered 203 grinding machines, 60
motorcycles and 5 transformers in the compound which had been
procured under another constituency project. Thereupon the
Commission impounded all the items and sealed the Senator’s
compound.

The tricycles, motorcycles and grinding machines were meant to
be distributed to the lawmaker’s constituents to empower them as
part of the Federal Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty.

The Senator has pledged to ICPC that they would be distributed
to beneficiaries on Tuesday 6th August, 2019.

While ICPC is investigating circumstances that led to the items
being in the possession of the sponsoring legislator rather than
the implementing agency, its officers will be on the scene to
supervise the distribution.

Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission