The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pastor

  • Pastor Wole Oladiyun explores new ground

    Pastor Wole Oladiyun explores new ground

    The Senior Pastor and General Overseer of CLAM, Pastor Wole Oladiyun, is set to add another feather to his colourful cap with the launch of a mega hospital. In addition to directing a church that boasts a mammoth congregation, the vivacious clergyman has also shown his determination to contribute to development in the health sector with the building of an ultra modern hospital.

    The project has not only been completed, it is fully functional. The high-rise of four floors is called SOTERIA Hospital and it is located within the Omole premises of CLAM, with Dr. (Mrs.) Moyosore Makinde as the Chief Medical Director.

    The medical centre is billed for dedication today.

  • Pastor Odukoya’s wife spreads tentacle

    Pastor Odukoya’s wife spreads tentacle

    When Pastor Taiwo Odukoya of the Fountain of Life Bible Church lost his wife, Bimbo Odukoya, in a plane crash that occurred in 2005, a void was left in his heart and the church. Five years later, the respected clergyman found love again in the arms of South African beauty, Nomthi, and wasted no time in marrying her.

    Pastor Nomthi has bloomed as a virtuous wife. An educationist and life coach, who holds a master’s degree in Global Human Resource Management, she has decided to give back to the society in the best way she can.

    She is set to launch a foundation for Kids. Known as FUNDAWAZI, the non-governmental organisation will be carrying out research on issues affecting children’s social, emotional and physical well being.

    Nomthi, a pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Lagos, is blessed with the ability to impact her large congregation and women around the world with messages that inspire hope. Her foundation will also publish and disseminate books, materials and tools that will serve as conversation starters for children and adults on difficult topics.

    FUNDAWAZI will also organise fora that will bring stake holders together to address critical issues affecting children.

  • Pastor Wale Adefarasin’s son hooked

    Pastor Wale Adefarasin’s son hooked

    The home of the Adefarasin’s was a haven of joy last Saturday as wedding bells rang and merriment filled the air. Emmanuel Ademola Adefarasin, son of Pastor Wale Adefarasin, elder brother of popular Lagos pastor, Paul Adefarasin, got married to his sweetheart, Yewande Adeosu, over the weekend.

    Emmanuel hails from a family that wields immense social and financial influence while Yewande is the daughter of a former Minister of Transport, Chief Oluwole Adeosun. On May 23, at the Imperial, Lekki, Lagos, the lovebirds got married in the traditional way. It was a colourful and sophisticated occasion that screamed opulence.

    The grand moment witnessed the presence of top celebrities and political bigwigs, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Chief Dele Momodu, among others.

  • Borno pastor : I didn’t beg Oritsejafor over N7bn bribe

    Borno pastor : I didn’t beg Oritsejafor over N7bn bribe

    Borno State-based Pastor Kallamu Mus-Dikwa yesterday accused the wife of Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oristejafo, of lying against him that he came to beg her husband over the alleged N7 billion collected from President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the presidential election.

    Pastor Dikwa had accused CAN of collecting N7 billion from President Jonathan to purportedly campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the rescheduled elections.

    The cleric, in a telephone in Kaduna, said he had not “set his eyes on the CAN president for over a year now, let alone going to beg him as claimed by his wife”.

    He also denied meeting Pastor Oritsejafor’s wife, challenging her to tell the world where and how he met her husband to beg for forgiveness over what he said he had no regret over.

    The pastor urged the CAN leadership to “as a matter of urgency resign peaceful and sin no more and stop tarnishing the image of Nigerian Christians”.

    He called on “real men of God to come forward and dissolve the CAN leadership before it was too late”, if it refused to abide by his appeal.

    The cleric noted that he was not surprise at the antics of the wife of the CAN leader to blackmail him since other means to arm-twist him to meet the CAN president had failed.

    Dikwa added: “I have not seen Pastor Oritsejafor for the past one and half years. They are the ones that have been sending emissaries to me for settlement, but I have always refused to go.

    “The wife (Oritsejafor’s) is lying. I have never seen Ayo’s wife in my life. They have used the DSS (Directorate of State Service) to force me to write statements. They are lying against their spirits and their God.

    “Let them bring witness (proof) that I went to beg Ayo. Is it in Abuja or Warri?.

    “They have been sending men of God to me for settlement. The CAN’s North Central Zone Chairman, Yakubu Pam, even told me that I should go and meet Ayo and that he talked to him. But I refused.

    “Many of them (Christian leaders) have been calling me asking me to meet the CAN leader and settle. And I said what for? In fact, they said I should not talk again and that they know that all I have been saying is true.

    “Even they have called me, requesting that I denounced that they collected money and that they are going to give me money. But I refused.”

    Dikwa warned the president-elect, Gen Muhammad Buhari, to be wary of the CAN leadership.

  • Pastor held for ‘stealing’

    Pastor held for ‘stealing’

    A pastor is in police net for allegedly stealing from churches in Lagos.

    Pastor Tope Kolawole (45) was said to have broken into churches, carting away music instruments, wall clocks, offering and tithe.

    One Alausa, who allegedly buys the stolen goods from him, is at large.

    Lagos State Command’s spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the pastor was arrested when he attempted to rob a church at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos on March 31 around 3:30am.

    He allegedly packed the stolen one amplifier, two music mixers, one keyboard, one stabiliser, two DVD players and one Samsung plasma 32 inches television together and went to look for a taxi to convey them.

    A Good Samaritan was said to have alerted the Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, on noticing what was happening.

    Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad led by their leader, Abba Kyari, a superintendent of Police (SP), was said to have arrested the pastor.

    The pastor allegedly confessed that he once spent one month in Kirikiri prison for breaking into churches.

    Kolawole said: “I specialise in stealing from churches. I steal music instruments. I have a receiver and buyer known as Alausa. Without him, I would not have gone to churches to steal. When he heard that I have been arrested, he went into hiding. I steal in the churches I worship to avoid suspicion. I have been succeeding except this one.

    “I was remanded in Kirikiri prison by Task Force from Alausa for hawking on the highway. I am a qualified pastor because I went to theological school and was ordained pastor in 2008 at Ile-Ife by Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) but I worship at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at any of their parishes. It is the devil that caused my frustration that made me to steal in the house of God.

    “My wife Bunmi is a nurse with children. I live in Sango and go to Lagos to operate because Ogun is good for hiding after operation. It was what the Task Force did to me that made me to become a thief because they made me lose everything I had got in 10 years.

    “I used to gather items at about 10:30pm and by 5am, I go to nearby road to look for taxi to take me to Oshodi. Where the taxi driver is in doubt, I call Alausa who claims to be the General Overseer of a particular church I once stole from. He is the one that pays the taxi driver once I deliver the goods.”

    Kolawole claimed to have repented, saying: “I am now a born again; if I am released, I will open a church and appoint those suspects elders of my church. We will not rob again but work for God.”

  • People’s pastor at 50

    People’s pastor at 50

    Pastor-in-charge of Israel Assembly and the Allen Zone of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Dapo Awoshika has celebrated his 50th birthday at Nana Arena in Ikeja, Lagos, reports OLATUNDE ODEBIYI.

    It was a show of class last Sunday at the Nana Arena in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, as the Pastor-in-charge of Israel Assembly and the Allen Zone of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Dapo Awoshika, marked his 50th birthday.

    He joined the golden club on March 10, and was treated to a high-class birthday party by his church members, friends and colleagues.

    The hall was tastefully decorated with white fabrics and complemented with colourful lightings.

    Chairs were set around tables which had silver overlays. A bevy of beautiful women in white dresses took guests to labelled seats and the waiters ensured that the tables were not empty.

    BJ Sax electrified the hall with gospel songs which kept guests dancing and singing along all through the event.

    The gathering was relaxed.

    Pastor Bolade Osinubu supervised the cutting of the cake by the celebrator and his wife after the spell of JESUS.

    Deacon Wole Aderinkomi led the toast.

    The celebrator said the party was beyond his imagination adding that he is grateful to God for clocking 50 when life expectancy in the country is said to be 4…

    “It is grace to get to 50 in Nigeria of today; getting to 50 is a thing that brings me joy. Being on Gods side has made life good and I aspire to live long, live well and serve God for the rest of my life.

    “The peace of God has kept me over the years and I don’t allow anything to trouble me.  If you allow your environment to control you, you will not live long so it is always good for you to allow yourself to be in control of your environment,” he said.

    Pastor Bayo Samagbeyi from RCCG Living Faith said the celebrator is dedicated to the work of God. “He is focused, determined and he is a man of integrity,” he said.

    Parish Coordinator of RCCG, Israel Assembly Pastor Femi Onasanwo said the celebrator is faithful, adding that he is a man that is always ready to do anything for God.

    He said his life is a blessing to others and wished him long life and strength to serve God more.

    Assistant Pastor in charge of Admin, RCCG Lagos province 2 Pastor Noruwa Edokplol said the celebrator is a jovial, funny, deep and wise man.

    He said the birthday is  a testimony of the impact of the celebrator’s life on people, adding that it is to appreciate him for what he has done.

    The celebrator’s son, Toluwani, said he is happy for his father. He described his father as a friend and brother, adding that he has always been there for him.

  • Pastor loses N5m to fraudsters

    A pastor, who allegedly intended to exchange N5million for $50million, has been duped by a five-man gang.

    Three of the gang members were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command.

    They are Chukwuma Anierobi, 52, Thomas Adekunle, 52 and Thomas Benz, 50.

    Police said they were arrested for allegedly duping a pastor based in the Southeast of N5million, under the pretence of buying a land and erecting a structure for a foreigner at $50million.

    A gang member, Ifeanyi, who is at large, brought the idea; Benz got a foreign number that was used to call the victim to ask if he was interested in the deal.

    They lodged in a hotel in Ikeja and invited the Pastor. When he came, they handed him a box containing $50million dollars and he took a flight back to the East. On getting home, he realised that the dollars were photocopies. Since then, he has not been able to reach the gang.

    Benz, who pretended to be London-based, said his role was to clear the money.

    “I called the victim (pastor) and told him that he will collect the cargo through Air France as the clearing agent. After I informed him that his money had arrived, I went to meet him where he lodged telling him the money for clearing was N870, 000. I also said officials of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) wanted to open the box but since I stopped them, they requested N5million and he pleaded to pay N3.5miliion.

    “Pastor said he operates a joint account with his wife and asked me to prepare the papers which I did. He paid all the money we requested, carried the box and got a flight back to the East. When he opened the box, he called saying that the dollars were fake. I asked him to shut up and I switched off my phone. We all collected N700, 000 each as our share.”

    Adekunle from Itaido in Ekiti State said: “I was the one he called when he opened the box. Our intention was to continue to extort money from him but the way he reacted made us end the game. I also assisted in clearing the defaced dollars with chemicals.”

  • Borno pastor: CAN got N7b to campaign against Buhari

    Borno pastor: CAN got N7b to campaign against Buhari

    The allegation that some pastors collected money to campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has taken another dimension, with Borno State born Pastor Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa reaffirming the allegation.

    The Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi alleged that some unnamed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders paid N6 billion to Christian clerics to campaign against APC.

    Amaechi’s allegation generated uproar among the Christian clerics, with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Northern State Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) challenging Amaechi to name the church leaders who collected the money.

    But, Pastor Dikwa, who is the executive director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, confirmed the allegation to a group of reporters in Kaduna.

    He said: “It was N7 billion that was given to the CAN leadership.”

    The money, he said, was shared N3 million to the state chairmen of the CAN. The money was handed over to the CAN leadership on January 26, 2015.”

    He said N3 million was given to the CAN executives in each state.

    “Actually, the money is not N6b; it is N7b. This is what I know. One of the CAN officials from Abuja told me that they collected the money,” Pastor Dkiwa said.

    “They are now threatening Christians in Borno State that they will deal with anybody who refuses to vote for Jonathan. And the CAN officials are campaigning that if Buhari emerges president, he will Islamise Nigeria, and that Osinbajo collects money from Islamic world, and the same Osinbajo will resign soon after Buhari wins to give way for Tinubu to emerge vice president,” he added.

    But, CAN’s Director of National Issues Sunday Oibe said the body will react to the allegation today.

    “We ‘ll react appropriately to the allegations and Nigerians will know the truth,” he said.

  • Suspected gunmen kidnap pastor

    •A day after wedding

    Four suspected gunmen kidnapped an Aba, Abia State cleric, Pastor Jasper Ohuoba, a day after his wedding.

    Ohuoba, it was learnt, was accosted and whisked away when he was about to drive into his compound near World Bank Housing Estate, Abayi, Aba.

    The cleric, said to be a pastor at the Church of God Seventh Day, was reportedly forced into the back seat of his Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and taken to an unknown destination.

    A source said luck ran out on the suspected kidnappers when the engine of the SUV stopped and refused to start.

    The source said the gunmen called their boss, who told them to leave.

    He added: “In anger, they beat up the cleric, snatched his ipad, two phones, N40,000 and escaped into a nearby bush.

    “When the pastor realised that his abductors had fled, he beckoned to a passerby, who assisted him to contact his family.”

    A member of the church, who preferred anonymity, thanked God for rescuing Ohuoba.

    Policemen from the Eastern Ngwa Police Division in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State have rescued a woman kidnapped by three armed men.

    The victim, whose name was given as Onyemereze Patricia, was said to have been abducted by the gunmen in her home at Umuafor village in Obingwa Council.

    A source said the victim was taken to an unknown destination.

    It was learnt that when the police were conducting stop- and-search on cars plying the new Umuahia Road, the gang abandoned the woman and fled. The police rescued her.

    A policeman, who would not want his name to be mentioned, said efforts were on to arrest the abductors.

  • Pastor, evangelist, 13 other suspected child traffickers paraded in Anambra

    Pastor, evangelist, 13 other suspected child traffickers paraded in Anambra

    The Directorate of State Security (DSS) has arrested a pastor of one of the new generation churches, an evangelist, two nurses and 13 others for child trafficking and kidnapping in Anambra state.

    The suspects were paraded yesterday at the DSS state headquarters in Awka with their faces bound in shame. Also, the three children taken away from their parents were rescued; they were three year old Chinonso Oriuwa, two year old Chidera Abiara and seven month old Chinasa Abiara.

    The suspects are Chinuru Martins (a pastor) from Umuahia in Abia State, Solomon Loveday Nwadinobi from Umuahia and Chiko Chima Ogu from Obowu in Imo state, all male.

    The women are, Nnena Ogbonna Nwachukwu from Bende in Abia, Eunice Tochukwu Uwakwe (Obowu), Glory Nnennaya Okwara a nurse from Arochukwu, Felicia Ebeh (Mbaise), Esther Eleanya (Abiriba). Also, Ifeoma Iwu (Obowu), Anurika Theophilus, Osisioma in Abia state, Adora Nwaneri, an evangelist from Orlu in Imo state, Loveth Nwankwo (Isiala Ngwa in Abia) and Comfort Charity Ononuju.

    Parading the suspects yesterday, the Anambra State Director of (DSS), Mr. Alex Okeiyi, said there had been rampant cases of missing children in recent times. He said many churches, and their pastors are involved in this kind of business, adding that the situation had become a source of worry to security and the society. According to Okeiyi, “this is beyond child trafficking, it is pure kidnap and they will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further action” He said a total of 17 persons including some members of the syndicate and buyers of the children were arrested. The assignment, according to Okeiyi was carried out by his command in collaboration with her Abia state counterpart and 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Asa in Abia state.