Can gives PFN two weeks to submit its reports on the investigation of Coza's Pastor Fatoyinbo

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials have given the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) two weeks to submit the report of its probe into the rape allegation against the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (Coza) founder Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo.

Earlier this month, Pastor Fatoyinbo was accused by the wife of musician Timi Dakolo, Busola, of raping her in Ilorin years ago. Pastor Fatoyinbo, who has denied the allegations, admitted, however, that Busola once attended the same church with his family and has since filed a libel suit against her.

However, the media attention the case has attracted has forced him to stand down as Coza's general overseer. Since then, the PFN has launched an investigation into the matter. Its eagerly awaited report is expected to either prove or disprove the allegation that Pastor Fatoyinbo is guilty of raping Busola, the celebrity photographer.

Can president Dr Samson Ayokunle, has stated that the allegation, no matter how bad it might be, remained an allegation until proven otherwise. He has thus challenged PFN to provide the evidence it says it has at its disposal.

Dr Ayokunle said: "We have told you without mincing words that we will never support immorality in whatever form, it is alien to the culture of the church and to the teachings of Christ. There is no pulpit that I know in Nigeria that the members are taught immorality but we will not condemn until we have reasons to condemn, so let the panel come out with the result and let’s know what the truth is.

"I told you in the press release we issued that we have given the right to the PFN because we don’t deal with individual churches, we deal with blocs. We have directed PFN, an arm of a bloc, which is also large enough to investigate that matter.

"I am telling you under God that PFN has set up that panel and that panel had been given two weeks within which to submit its report. Not only that, the two individuals involved have been invited by the committee and we are assuring them that nothing will be covered.”