Reverend, Top Church Leaders in Hot Altercation over Financial Misappropriation

By Sakin Babalola, Ibadan

Some top leaders of Ajegunle Baptist Church Agbowo Ibadan, Oyo state and the Minister in Charge of the Church, Rev. Emmanuel Oyewole Oyekan are currently at loggerheads on allegations and counter allegations of fraud against one another.

While the leaders accused Oyekan of” financial impropriety and improper behaviours” the Minister said that he was fully prepared for an investigation “of all allegations leveled against him by the four leaders whatever form it will take”.

The position of the church elders was contained in a petition titled “financial impropriety and improper behaviuors of Rev.Emmanuel Oyewole Oyekan”and addressed to the President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Ibadan.

Signatories to the petitions are Mr. G. A Odekunle, Deacon T. A Ojo, Mr. A. N Okunade and Mr. T. A Adeoye who are members of the Ajegunle  Baptist Convention.

Oyekan was accused of many alleged financial shady deals with indictment that “Oyekan has even carried himself to a point of cursing his perceived enemies on the pulpit and preaching divisive sermons on the pulpit. He had also cultivated the habit of encouraging the music Minister to sing Alatika and Yoruba incantation songs on the pulpit.”

The church leaders also alleged Oyekan of improper behaviours, stressing, “apart from casting serious aspersion on his integrity as the church Pastor, his improper behaviours has led to the church losing her position of honour in the Baptist family through untimely and inappropriate payment of dues to the association, conference and the convention.”

They concluded, “Rev. Oyekan’s improper involvement in church financial affairs and abuse of the pulpit have cast a serious aspersion on his integrity as a Pastor. Therefore, for the church to regain her rightful honourable position in the Nigerian Baptist family, stop further damage to his name, the name of the church, put an end to disunity among the church members and stop further exposition of his other misdemeanours. He should honourably take his exit from the church.”

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, Barrister Gbenga Olayode who is also a member of the church, said,  “we are demanding that the report of the conference and convention committee sent to the Baptist authority should be released immediately.”

Reverend Oyekan in his defence, said, “I am fully prepared for an investigation of all the above allegations by the four leaders, whatever form it will take. And I believe that you will use your good offices as the President of our great convention to do justice to their letter and the allegations therein.”

The Vice President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend D.O.E Madoghwe in his letter to the concerned Baptist member titled “Ministerial Board’s Decision,” said, “The case of financial misapplication is established though there was no embezzlement. Most of the issues raised are not recent. Your effort is helpful in cautioning the Pastor on his weakness.”

He said further, “The Pastor is further directed to bridge every gap that exists between him and any member of the church.  He is also directed to maintain the sanctity of the pulpit and avoid any form of abuse.”