Richmond C. Amadi is an independent journalist, Book Publisher, member of RSU Alumni, Researcher (currently researching with Researchgate.net), Writer, Motivational Speaker. He is a BSc Holder in Office and Information Management, and Diploma holder in Management all from Rivers State University. Currently doing his MSc with RSU. Contact him on Richmond.amadi@ust.edu.ng or Amadirichmondc@gmail.com All Social Platforms: @amadirichmondc
Detectives of the Nigeria police force reportedly confirmed the founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, is under going questioning over the rape allegations levelled against him by Busola, a photographer and wife of popular singer, Timi Dakolo.
DCP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed this during an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.
Responding to a question, Mba said, “Yes, he is in our custody.”
When asked if the pastor was being detained, MBA replied that it was too early to say.
He also said the investigation of Fatoyinbo was proof that the police had not swept the matter under the carpet as was being insinuated in some quarters.
When asked why it took so long for the pastor to be invited, Mba said the police wanted to get statements from several witnesses and then build a solid case before inviting him.
In his words: “We have done a whole lot of background investigations and spoken to a whole lot of people before now. It was a deliberate investigative procedure to bring him last. Although we may invite others later depending on how investigations go.
“We were not in a hurry to bring him because we wanted to have enough background information that would be used in interrogating him. We have done an extensive investigation.”
Mrs. Dakolo accused him of raping her 20 years ago while she was still a teenager.
The pastor, reportedly had skipped a panel set up by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria to investigate the rape allegations, stating that he was advised by his lawyers not to appear before the panel because it was prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session.
The cleric in a statement last Friday, however, said he could appear before the panel after the police investigations.
The PFN had disclosed on Thursday that its probe into the allegations against Fatoyinbo was inconclusive because he failed to honour the invitation to appear before the panel.
But the Senior Assistant to the COZA Pastor, Ademola Adetuberu, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, disclosed that the legal advice was also premised on the statement issued and personally signed by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, “where our Pastor was publicly disowned.”
