The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has announced the formation of an investigative panel following allegations of sodomy involving two of its youth pastors.
Pastor Sunday Akande, the National Overseer of RCCG, disclosed to Sunday Punch that the church is treating the matter with utmost seriousness, describing the situation as unprecedented in the church’s history.
He assured that the church would take any necessary actions based on the findings of the panel.
Akande emphasized that the church would not tolerate any conduct that falls short of its moral standards, adding that the outcome of the investigation would determine the next steps.
He said, “The reason for the suspension is to also allow persons who were said to have been molested or harassed to come forward and testify against the pastors. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has come forward yet as a victim of harassment.
“This is the first time an allegation like this has been raised against the church. If we see anything like this, the church will investigate it and see how we can address it. As far as the church is concerned, we don’t condone this kind of thing.”
A controversial news blog, Gistlovers, had last week called out two youth pastors of the church for allegedly luring teenage boys into homosexuality.
The blog also accused them of negatively influencing teenagers under their mentorship.
According to the blog, a 20-year-old boy, who requested anonymity, claimed the youth pastors “influenced many into being gay.”
“This gist is not complete without naming, a very close friend of (the youth pastor) and also a former coordinator in the teens’ church at RCCG Region 2 (they were both coordinators). He was raising young boys in his former house at U-turn and he slept with all these boys, and they were even holding fake Bible study just to create a meeting point for this brostitution,” a post by the blog read.
One of the accused, in a statement, said he had never sodomized or had sex with any male teenager.
“I have never demanded sex from any male as payment or gratification in order to give them assistance, platforms, or positions. God is the only kingmaker, the only one who can raise and erase kings, give positions, and platforms,” he stated.
On alleged screenshots of a conversation with an alleged victim, he said he asked questions “during a conversation in a male teenagers’ WhatsApp group where discussions regarding male reproductive health and self-esteem took place.”
According to him, the teenagers were taught about proper hygiene for reproductive health, the right kind of underwear to buy, and that the girth and length determine the underwear size.
He said, “I also explained that their sizes should not affect their self-esteem and that they are perfectly and uniquely created by God.”
However, the church suspended the two men at the centre of the drama.
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