I was ill, became well after Bishop Oyedepo prayed for me - COZA Pastor, Fatoyinbo speaks

The lead pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, has said that he was ill but after the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, prayed for him, he became well against all medical sciences.

The COZA lead cleric who disclosed that he was a drummer in the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, said this while giving testimony at a church programme.

Fatoyinbo further revealed that in the last three years when he and his church started following everything the Winners Chapel was doing, he had established 11 branches.

He added that his church had been buying properties including 10 hectares of land that three branches of his church bought at Mararaba, Lugbe and Gwarinpa.

The cleric said, “We have been doing well before. We have been following Papa (Oyedepo) from afar. I was a drummer here before, in Winners Chapel. The Lord called us and we were doing well, we had branches which we call campuses now.

“But the last three years when we met Papa and came here has been phenomenon. We have had 11 branches in the last three years. Not just any branch, everywhere looks like the headquarters because we operate like a franchise. Everything is well done.

“God spoke to us that we should come here and be a part of everything happening here. I met Papa and Papa spoke to me about something and life has not remained the same, the members have not remained the same, the church has not remained the same.

“We had three campuses at the time, the three of them bought 10 hectares (of land) in Mararaba, Lugbe and Gwarinpa. They bought their properties and every single thing since we began to follow this church, we began to buy properties for all our branches.

“The thing about Papa is that when he speaks, it comes to pass instantly. Many times, we have been in a circumstance and he will say never again and instantly we see the result. I want to thank God for everything that has happened.

“Last year, I was a little bit ill and Papa spoke, and against everything, the medical sciences, I’m here today and I want to give God the glory.”

Busola, the wife of Nigerian musician Timi Dakolo, had accused Mr Fatoyinbo of raping her around 1999 when she was about 16 years old.

Busola also sued Fatoyinbo for the alleged rape but the COZA pastor denied the allegation.

In November 2019, Justice Oathman Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Bwari Division, dismissed the case filed by Busola Dakolo, saying it was statute-barred because it happened decades ago.

Ese Walter was the first woman to publicly accuse Pastor Fatoyimbo of taking sexual advantage of her. Walter, who is now married with kids, used to attend Fatoyinbo’s church.

In 2013, she admitted that her sexual relationship with Fatoyinbo was consensual, but said she felt “abused and manipulated” by the pastor.

Some days after Ese’s allegation, another former female member of COZA Church who identified herself as Franca, narrated how she was almost raped by the pastor in a hotel in Lagos.