COZA Vs Busola Dakolo: Why I Shunned PFN Panel - Pastor Fatoyinbo

Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, has said that he snubbed the panel set up by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to investigate the rape allegation against him by Busola, wife of singer, Timi Dakolo, because it appeared bias.

Fatoyinbo, in a statement on Friday by his Senior Assistant, Ademola Adetuberu, said he was advised by his lawyers not to appear before the panel because it was prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session.

PFN National Publicity Secretary, Bishop Emma Isong, had told reporters on Thursday that its probe into the rape allegations was inconclusive as Fatoyinbo failed to honour invitations of the five-member investigative panel.

Isong, however, said that Busola and Timi appeared before the panel.

Fatoyinbo said in the statement that he hinged his decision to snub the panel on a statement in which he was publicly disowned by PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude.

“We recall that when Pastor Fatoyinbo was invited by a phone call few days ago by Pastor Akinola Akinwale, who is the National Administrative Secretary of PFN, we explained that our Pastor would not honour the invitation due to legal advice hinged on the ongoing police investigation,” the statement read.

“The legal advice was also premised on the press statement issued and personally signed by the PFN President, Bishop Felix Omobude, where our Pastor was publicly disowned.

“Based on the foregoing, we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the PFN was already prejudiced and may not conduct an impartial session.”

He said the panel did not make a written invitation to him except a phone call.

Fatoyinbo, however, assured that he would appear before the panel after the conclusion of the police probe into the rape allegations.