The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned any act or conduct that negates the Scripture carried out by any church or church leaders in Nigeria

In an interview in Abuja on Sunday with Women Radio 91.7 on allegation of Rape by Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo founder of Common Wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Bishop Dr Peter Ogunmuyiwa, Coordinating Chaplain, National Ecumenical (Christian) Centre, CAN HQ Abuja said “every church denomination is expected to have internal mechanism to deal with internal conflicts such as we have presently in COZA church.

Rev. Biodun Fatoyinbo

CAN does not have the power to meddle into any church internal affairs. CAN is a voluntary association of church denominations through representatives. Ogunmuyiwa however said “CAN condemns and dissociates herself from any act or conduct that negates the Scripture carried out by any church or church leaders in Nigeria”

Bishop Peter Ogunmuyiwa

In response to Women Radio charging
CAN to evolve and to meddle in the affairs of churches where there has been reports of abuse and the need to engage CAN to address sexual abuse and other forms of violence in churches, Ogunmuyiwa who is also the African Church diocesan for Abuja assures that CAN is open to dialogue on the on-going matter when the need arises.

Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo was alleged to have raped Busola Dakolo, a photographer, wife and mother when she was a teenager. Fatoyinbo denied allegation and this has generated condemnations and protests to COZA churches in Abuja and Lagos demanding that Fatoyinbo should vacate his position as the leader of the church.

Nigerians have continued to applaud Busola Dakolo for speaking out and for using her voice to encourage other surviving Women and girls of rape, abuse and other forms of violence to be free and speak up. Timi Dakolo Nigerian singer has urged other survivors of sexual abuse in the church to share stories of abuse and rape at #NotInMyChurch, a movement set up to find help, justice and healing.

Women Radio has been reliably informed by some COZA church members in Abuja that more women and girls have been allegedly sexually violated and hopefully will be encouraged to speak out now. A male member in a telephone chat said this is not a fight against COZA but to condemn rape and sexual based violence in holy places. The female member who asked for anonymity said she’s upset and disappointed because “Pastor Fatoyinbo did not even address the allegation in church this morning. He just asked us to continue to pray and not to fight” She said his wife Pastor Modele was the one who assured us not to worry about all the noise being made by our enemies.

Abike Abayomi.
Abuja. Nigeria.