A Pastor of the Mount Zion Church in the Oke-Aro area of Ondo State, Femi Olorunsoromidayo, has reportedly died while conducting a funeral service for the burial of a late member of the church.
It was learnt that the deceased pastor, aged 42, was the founder of Divine Mount Zion Gospel Ministry.
The pastor was said to have suddenly fallen ill and died during the burial service of a 78-year-old church member, Mr. Samuel Rotimi, at Erusu in Akoko North West Local Government Area, after receiving the corpse of the deceased from Akure for a funeral service.
A source said that the late Rotimi had, before his death, instructed the cleric to ensure that he was buried at his residence in Akure, anytime he died as against his home town, Erusu-Akoko.
But after Rotimi’s death, the pastor reportedly acted against the wish of the deceased, an action which was said to have been supported by the deceased church members’ immediate family.
Also, the head of the deceased family at Erusu-Akoko was said to have instructed the pastor to move the burial plans to Erusu against the instructions left by Rotimi before his death.
A source said: “Since the late pastor, including his immediate family, had limited authority over the burial plans, he arranged for an ambulance which took the corpse to Erusu Akoko, alongside his family members and some church members.
“While the pastor was conducting the burial service at the cemetery, he started feeling uncomfortable after which he became unconscious before he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the Akoko area, where he was confirmed dead.”
It was learnt that the ambulance which conveyed the remains of the late church member to his home town in Erusu for burial, was also used to convey the corpse of the pastor back to Akure.
The development was said to have created confusion within the church and among family members of the late cleric.