The Redeemed Christian Church of God has said it will take further action after the conclusion of an investigation into allegations of attempted rape and sexual misconduct levelled against one of its pastors in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
The church’s Publicity Secretary, Lanre Oyegbola, disclosed on Saturday that the church was already aware of the allegations and was monitoring developments surrounding the case.
The pastor at the centre of the controversy is reportedly a youth pastor at the RCCG Strongtower Parish situated near Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
The matter gained public attention after a dramatic scene during a church service in which a female student, said to be an undergraduate of the institution, openly accused the cleric of attempted rape and repeated sexual advances.
In a viral video circulating online, the lady alleged that the pastor invited her to his residence under the guise of collecting food she had purchased for him before allegedly attempting to force himself on her.
She claimed she repeatedly resisted his advances and further alleged that the cleric later requested oral sex after failing to have intercourse with her.
The student also accused the pastor of inappropriate touching and alleged that he claimed to have had similar encounters with other female church members.
During the confrontation captured in the video, the accused pastor was heard responding briefly, saying the lady’s narration was accurate before the clip ended abruptly.
Following the incident, other women reportedly came forward with similar allegations bordering on sexual coercion, abuse of authority and inappropriate conduct.
Reacting to the controversy, Oyegbola said the church would await the outcome of the ongoing investigation reportedly being handled by the school authorities before determining its next step.
“I have confirmed that the church is aware of the allegations and is waiting for the outcome of the investigation by the school authority before deciding on the next action,” he said.
Asked whether the pastor had been suspended, the RCCG spokesman maintained that the matter was still under investigation.
Efforts to get the reaction of the church’s National Overseer, Sunday Akande, were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to him were not answered as of the time this report was filed.
Attempts to reach the accused pastor also proved abortive, as messages sent through his social media accounts were yet to receive any response.
The development has continued to generate mixed reactions on social media, with some users commending the lady for speaking out while others called for a thorough and unbiased investigation.
When contacted, the spokesperson for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lekan Fadeyi, said he was yet to receive details of the incident but promised to make findings.
“I’m hearing about it for the first time, but I will verify whether such a case has been officially reported to the school authorities,” he said.
Also reacting, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he was not aware of the case, noting that such matters are usually handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Stephen Adegbite, stressed the need for a proper investigation into the allegations.
He said religious leaders must uphold moral standards and ensure vulnerable persons are protected.
According to him, anyone found culpable after investigation should face appropriate sanctions, while also cautioning that allegations against clerics must be carefully examined to ensure fairness and justice for all parties involved.