COZA Rape scandal: My surname will not change until I see Jesus – Fatoyinbo’s wife

Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The wife of Biodun Fatoyinbo, the senior pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), has said that until she sees Jesus, her surname will not change.

Modele Fatoyinbo who speaking during the church Morning Prayer meeting on Tuesday reaffirmed that no attempt to tarnish the image of her husband and the church by the enemy will make her abandon her husband.

“I just want to say we love you. You are our pastor; nobody can take your place. It’s always good to assure people that you love them, not only when you feel that everything is fine with them, even much more when you feel that they are not (loved).

‘’I just want to tell you, pastor, because we have strangers, that on behalf of your sons and daughters. We have strangers in this house — strange sons and daughters. However, God will close the heavens over them in the name of Jesus.

“You know your friends when you’re in trouble. Therefore, we do not want you to doubt in your heart. As for Modele, until I see Jesus, my surname cannot change. So, you better calm down.

“We love you and you have always taught us well. You have always stood on that stage to teach us that even though anybody might be coming from anywhere, God loves them and accepts them.

You have never preached condemnation; you have never preached that we cannot change or make it.

“Nobody on earth can take your place in our lives in spite of ’20 years’? Where are you coming from? Nobody can take your place’’, she said.

Biodun Fatoyinbo had cancelled the church’s upcoming week-long programme tagged ‘7DG’ which was billed to hold from July 1 to July 7 Sunday during the church service with protesters holding a peaceful demonstration around the premises.

The protests tagged #ChurchToo and #PastorStepDown was held at COZA branches in Lagos and Abuja with participants urging the church to suspend the clergy activities of Fatoyinbo pending investigations into the alleged rape accusations.

Friday, Busola Dakolo, celebrity photographer and wife of singer, Timi Dakolo accused Fatoyinbo of raping her at 16 in a now-viral video interview.

Dakolo detailed the events that led to the alleged rape, which she revealed happened twice in one week.

The flamboyant pastor has stepped aside from the church after the protest.

Fatoyinbo who denied the allegation by Busola Dakolo said that he was taking “leave of absence from the pulpit” because it was the “right thing to do”.

The social media campaign has led to thousands of people sharing their stories of sexual abuse and harassment since 2017.