PROTEST MARCH TO COZA CHURCH ON SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019
ALLEGED RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF FEMALE COZA CHURCH MEMBERS BY PASTOR BIODUN FATOYINBO
Background:
We are a group of well-meaning, concerned Nigerians, under the umbrella of the #ChurchToo Movement,
advocating for and speaking against all forms of human rights violations, especially sexual abuse, that have become
prevalent in the church today. Our march today has been triggered by the recent allegation of rape leveled against
the lead Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo by Busola Dakolo, who was a
minor at the time of the said sexual abuse, and now wife of the popular musician – Timi Dakolo, as shown in her
recent interview with Y!TV, coupled with several other similar allegations.
Our Message:
The pattern and the repetitiveness of these allegations is worrisome, one that calls for urgent and immediate
action. We believe that leaders placed in positions of authority must be subject to a higher level of scrutiny and
accountability, while desisting from taking advantage of their positions of influence and power over their members,
which often cause unquantifiable and, sometimes, irredeemable damage to the victims.
We are concerned, also, that when the church authority refuses to take action following an allegation of such
magnitude as rape, which is a sin before God and a crime against the Laws of the land, it sends a message that the
church condones such acts and is shielding perpetrators of sexual violence. This must stop! The allegations of rape
and sexual misconduct leveled against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo must not be swept under the carpet without the
necessary actions of investigation and prosecution. The church should be a place where its members can find
succor, comfort, and protection; hence actions that produce the opposite must be condemned.
Our Demands:
In view of the above circumstance, we, therefore, demand that:
- The Board and leadership of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) must commence investigation into
the allegation of rape leveled by Busola Dakolo and any other member of the church against its lead Pastor,
Biodun Fatoyinbo. - While the investigation is being carried out, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo must be asked to step down from any
leadership role in the church to avoid partiality. - The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and other relevant
Christian bodies must show leadership by condemning these crimes coming from the church, while ensuring
relevant actions are taken. - The continuous harassment and intimidation of Busola and Timi Dakolo, and other victims must stop forthwith.
Moving forward:
In the coming days, we will be marching to the relevant law enforcement, judicial, and law-making bodies to stress
the importance of ensuring that rape and other forms of sexual abuse will no longer be tolerated. We will not stop
until justice for sexual abuse victims is taken seriously and addressed in Nigeria.
Signed: for and on behalf of the #ChurchToo Movement
Bukky Shonibare
Jekein Lato-Unah
Olamide Apejoye
With solidarity from the following individuals and organizations
1. Girl Child Africa
2. Jennifer Okojie
3. Dr Etin-osa Imagbenikaro
4. Diri Diepriye
5. Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
6. Enough is Enough Nigeria
7. Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode
8. Osasu Paul-Azino
9. Tonia Ojenagbon
10. Funke Oguntuga
11. Education as a Vaccine (EVA)
12. Olabukunola Williams
13. Stand To End Rape Initiative
14. Omolara Oriye Esq.
15. Ayodeji Osowobi
16. Helen Nzete
17. Susan-Ngozi Okobi
18. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
19. Business and Professional Women (BPW) Nigeria
20. The Reformation Group
21. Herfessions
22. Heartminders Initiative
23. Bruised but not Broken Initiative
24. Media Concern Initiative -for Women & Children (MediaCon)
25. Esther Ijewere
26. Marcelle-Rebekah Umar
27. Miriamclare Smart
28. Haly Hope Foundation
29. Apolmida Haruna Tsammani
30. iProtect
31. Lawal Oluwakemi
32. Khadijah El-Usman
33. Chisom Oyeka
34. Mope Fasakin
35. Help for Victims of Domestic Abuse Foundation
36. Dorothy Njamanze
37. Okorie Adeola Positive
38. A Girl Project
39. Above Whispers Foundation
40. Laila St Matthew-Daniel
41. ACTS Generation GBV
42. Alliances for Africa
43. Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative (GAJI)
44. Centre for Children’s Health, Orientation, Education and Protection (CEE-HOPE)
45. Kathlyn Eyitemi
46. Women’s rights and health project
47. Amazing Grace Inspirations.
48. Global Rights
49. Centre for Womens Health and Information
50. Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation
51. Initiative for Sustaining Family Unity
52. Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence
53. Women Law and Development Centre (WLDCN)
54. Centre for womens Health and Information (CEWHIN)
55. Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
56. Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP)
57. Greenspring Development Initiative
58. Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
59. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
60. Girls Inspired Development Network
61. FAME Foundation
62. The Initiative for Equal Rights
63. Women Africa
64. Alliance for Inclusion
65. Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
66. Daria Media Foundation
67. Women Radio 91.7
68. Vision Spring initiatives
69. Lateef K. Akinborode,
70. Aderonke Oyelakin
71. Bintu Ajao
72. Verun Jov
73. HEIR Women Development
74. Women of Rubies
75. Mercy Makinde
76. Amazing Amazon
77. Project Alert on Violence Against Women
78. Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative
79. Uzoma Aneto
80. NDOF – Nde Oduko Foundation
81. Dr. Charmaine Pereira
82. Working Moms Africa
83. Emerge Women
84. Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre
85. Cece Yara Foundation
86. International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
87. First Future Leadership in the protest
88. Matilda Otitoloju-Iyaniwura
89. Ngozi Ekwerike-Okoro
90. Child to Child Network
91. Ngozi Nwosu-Juba
92. Nigerian Women Trust Fund
93. Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
94. Noble Delta Women for Peace and Development
95. Vision Spring initiatives
96. Take a Cue Development initiative
97. Morenike Omaiboje
98. Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
99. Feyi Luther Mbanugo
100. Wumi Asubiaro-Dada
101. Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP)
102. Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC)
103. Network of Organizations of Women With Disabilities (NOWWD)
104. BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women
105. Manre Chirtau
106. Black Women of Influence and Inspiration
107. Centre for Media Resources in Development (CEMERDEV).
108. BrenCare Foundation
109. Virgin Heart Foundation
110. Prof Peyi Soyinka-Airewele
111. African Women’s Initiative
112. Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN)
113. Adaobi Egboka
114. Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP)
115. The Inclusion Project (TIP)
116. Young Business and Professional Women Nigeria
117. African Women Entrepreneurship Programme Nigeria Chapter (AWEP)
118. Educate Nigeria Initiative (ENI)
119. Dr Bunmi Oyinsan
120. Equality Through Education Foundation
121. Pro Active Gender Initiative
122. Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative (WADHI)
123. Aderonke Bello
124. Women in Politics Forum
125. Partnership for Justice