By Ayo Kehinde
Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, has yielded to pressure from protesters against his alleged rape of Busola Dakola and decided stepped down from the pulpit, begining Monday.
Dakolo is a celebrity photographer and mother of three and wife of musician Timi Dakolo. On Friday, she accused the pastor of raping her when she was almost 17. The allegation swept through the social media like a whirlwind culminating in a sustained massive protests by #ChurchTooMovement to the COZA, Lagos branch at Mobalaji Bank Anthony Way, Lagos and its Abuja headquarter at Guazupe.
In a statement he released on Monday on his Instagram handle, the pastor who initially boosted that he would institute a legal suit against his accused and those supporting her case, ate his words and bowed to the wise counsel of mentors.
In the message, reproduced below, he said
“I have taken time to pray and seek spiritual counsel from Christian leaders around the world who feel very concerned about the ongoing reports in the media,” the statement read.
“I have solicited their guidance on actions I should take that is honouring to our Lord Jesus Christ and the work he has called me to do.
“Drawing from their counsel and that of the leadership of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly and owing to my love for God’s work and the sacred honour of my calling, I have decided to take a leave of absence from the pulpit of the church.
“This step enables me to submit to the concerns of my spiritual mentors as they consider all the issues that have been raised against me.
“Though I do not understand all that is happening, I trust the Lord to lead and guide me one step at a time….”
