Few days after Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria revealed that Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, the founder of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) did not show up at the panel set up to probe the rape allegations leveled against him by Busola Dakolo, the senior pastor of COZA has reacted.
In a statement released by his Senior Assistant, Ademola Adetuberu, Fatoyinbo said he failed to honour the panel’s invitations because his lawyers realised the sitting might be partial as the christian body before constituting the panel, had disowned him.
“We recall that when Pastor Fatoyinbo was invited by a phone call 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.
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. 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.”
Fatoyinbo says once the police investigation into the rape allegation is over, he will appear before the panel.
“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.” the statement read