After exceeding the two-week ultimatum given to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) by the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle, the panel set up to probe the rape allegation against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), will finally submit its report this week, it was learnt on Monday.
PFN President, Rev. Felix Omobude, who confirmed the development to our correspondent in a telephone conversation, was asked what could be responsible for the delay.
He said one of the concerned parties, early last week, asked for an extension of time before the committee concluded the report.
Omobude said: “You are right that a two-week ultimatum was given. The committee is working and would have delivered within the two weeks but one of the parties involved in the matter asked for an extension of time. The extension was last week. But by this week, the committee will conclude its report and the media will be briefed.”
Busola, wife of a popular musician, Timi Dakolo, accused Fatoyinbo of raping her 20 years ago when she was 16 years old.
But Fatoyinbo denied the allegation.
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Following the allegation, scores of protesters stormed the church in Abuja and Lagos in early July to protest against Fatoyinbo. The action forced the COZA senior pastor to step down, leaving his wife, Modele, to take charge of the church.
The reason the probe panel delayed the final report on the rape saga is explained by the resumption of Pastor Fatoyinbo a month after stepping down.
Top Christian leaders told The Nation in confidence that they were worried the probe report should have been made public before the resumption of Pastor Fatoyinbo.
During his last briefing on the matter, Ayokunle said the allegation, no matter how bad it might be, remained an allegation until proven otherwise. He added: “That was until it was properly investigated and we have a truth to hold on to.”
Our correspondent also contacted CAN’s National Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Vondip, who also corroborated what the PFN president said.
He said: “The fact is that the committee is working on it and they are trying to get everything in black and white.
“What the leadership of the PFN told me is that the committee was working. But they requested for an extension of time. They have seen one of the parties, since there are two major parties involved. Of course, you know it is not easy for people who are far from each other to come together to investigate issues.
“I was told that they granted them the extension of time and it is an issue of the next two weeks or so. It was Friday last week that the two parties reported back to the committee, asking for an extension of time.”
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