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COZA: Lawyers Tell Fatoyinbo Next Step To Take Over Rape Allegations

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Fani-kayode

The Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has urged the Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, to submit himself for investigations.

Naija News reports that Busola, a celebrity photographer and wife of musician, Timi Dakolo, had accused the Fatoyinbao of raping her 20 years ago.

This led to massive calls and protest for the COZA pastor to step down from his position.

Giving in to pressure, Fatoyinbo, on Monday, announced he is stepping down but maintained he had never raped anyone before, ‘not even as an unbeliever’.

Reacting in a statement, convener of COPA, Pelumi Olajengbesi, commended the COZA pastor for heeding the call of Nigerians and stepping down.

He, however, urged Fatoyinbo to report to the Nigeria Police voluntarily.

The statement reads in part: “We at COPA are of the mind that while the above is a good way to start that, Mr Biodun Fatoyinbo must take a step further in the interest of addressing and assuaging public interest by reporting to the Nigeria Police Force voluntarily, a truly neutral arbiter in this instance, to provide answers to public queries on the matter.

“This is in view of making sure that the results of the investigations from both the church committee and the police, being independent sources, would satisfactorily put to rest all sundry issues generated by the intense rape allegations hanging over him.

“A man of clear conscience fears nothing and we hope that it would never come to the point where Mr Biodun Fatoyinbo is compelled beyond personal alacrity to do the needful and submit self to the Police for questioning.

“Needless to say that his status as a popular man of God and the issue of betrayal of fiduciary trust, infidelity and the crime of rape makes it imperative that no room is left for doubt to exist on his innocence of the claims against him.

“Conversely, by voluntarily submitting himself to the police for questioning, he makes a much-needed statement in lieu of his claims to innocence.

“It also affords the public the opportunity to pursue further actions where it is established that he may, in fact, have criminal issues to answer to or not.”