Metro

BBC documentary alleges wide-ranging abuses by late Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua

Published

4 months ago

January 9, 2024

A three-episode BBC documentary titled, “Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua”, released on Monday, has uncovered alleged dark secrets of late Nigerian televangelist and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly called TB Joshua.

In the documentary, which is the result of a two-year investigation, dozens of the former church members gave accounts of physical violence or torture carried out by Joshua and his cronies, including instances of child abuse and people being whipped and chained.

As part of the investigation, the BBC interviewed at least 30 former members and workers of the church.

The documentary revealed the clandestine lifestyle of the late Joshua, detailing stories of abuse, sexual harassment, rape, manipulation, and staged miracles which spanned over two decades.

Reported survivors of sexual exploitation narrated how they were manipulated and silenced even when they knew the relationship they had with him was abusive.

Many women narrated how he molested and raped them, with a few saying they tried to resist his assault at first but were threatened into submission.

According to one witness, Joshua told the women he was sexually assaulting them for their salvation.

A woman who gave her name as Abisola said she was in the church for 14 years and was raped throughout her stay.

She said when the women get pregnant as a result of being raped many times, they were forced to get an abortion in a dingy clinic inside the synagogue.

“We went into his room and I stood there. He said ‘off your clothes’ so I removed my clothes he just pointed so I lay down and then he raped me. He broke my virginity. I was screaming and he was whispering in my ears that I should stop acting like a baby. I was 17 years old. I was underage,” one of the women said.

One of the reported survivors confronted TB Joshua after she managed to escape. She recorded the encounter in videos she shared with the BBC. In the video, a security officer was heard threatening to shoot at the lady. Survivors said they were targeted, beaten, and shot at by thugs suspected to be working for the pastor.

The documentary also revealed how the church allegedly stage-managed and exaggerated miracles that were televised.

“People were told to exaggerate their problems so they could be healed, likewise, their healing so it could be perfected by God”, a witness who said he worked at the miracle department told the BBC.

“You’ve got this man who positioned himself as a father with many children and went on to rape, abuse, and molest all these people who call him daddy. How is somebody like that permitted to walk free.”

The documentary also delved into how TB Joshua allegedly maltreated and ostracised the daughter he had out of wedlock.

Ajoke, now 28 years old, told the BBC how she confronted her father about allegations of sexual abuse, and was subsequently thrown out of the church.

“The disciples dragged me out of the office, put me in a room and isolated me from the rest of the church. I wonder how I lived through that time because they were hitting me with belts, chains… I couldn’t take a shower for days. He was trying so hard to stop people from listening to me. He felt threatened by the fact that I knew what was happening,” she narrated.

Another aspect of the documentary that got Nigerians talking were revelations that TB Joshua was engaged in fake miracles.

Some of the witnesses gave first-hand accounts detailing how Joshua faked his “miracle healings” which were broadcast to millions of people in Nigeria and around the world.

One Agomoh Paul who was once regarded as Joshua’s number two man at SCOAN, said he left the church after staying in the compound for at least a decade.

Paul revealed that the whole “miracle thing” was scripted and acted out.

“That guy was a genius. Everything he did was planned out,” Paul stated, adding that a major part of the planning was the faking of the “miracles.”

Other witnesses who spoke in the documentary compared their experiences at the Synagogue Church to being in a cult.

They said they were often stripped and beaten with electrical cables and horse whips, and routinely denied sleep in scenes which looked like cult operations.

The response of the church is being awaited.

Related Topics:BBC Documentary Featured Synagogue TB Joshua

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Metro

Nigeria: Civil society group sues 36 govs, Wike over N5.9tn, $4.6bn loans

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

A civil society organisation in Nigeria, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has dragged the 36 state governors of the Federation and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to court over their failure to account for and publish agreements made in N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT respectively.

The lawsuit with the number FHC/ABJ/CS/592/2024, was filed on behalf of the group by its legal team comprising of Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Valentina Adegoke, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In a statement on Sunday confirming the suit, the CSO said it has “asked the court to direct and compel the 36 governors and Wike to account for the N5.9trn and $4.6bn loans obtained by their states and the FCT and to publish copies of the loan agreements, location of projects executed with the loans for the public to see.

According to SERAP, the suit is sequel to its earlier demand addressed to the 37 respondents in a statement issued by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on March 31.

In the suit, SERAP prayed the court to “direct and compel the governors and Mr. Wike to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the spending of all the loans obtained to date by their states and the FCT.”

“It is in the public interest to grant the reliefs sought. Nigerians have the right to see and scrutinise the loan agreements and know the details of how the domestic and external loans obtained by the governors and FCT minister are spent,” it said.

“Opacity in the spending of the loans obtained by the governors and Mr. Wike would continue to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.”

SERAP further noted that many states in the country, including the FCT, had spent “public funds which may include the loans obtained by them to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bulletproof cars and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians.”

“According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N5.9 trillion. The total public external debt portfolio is $4.6 billion,” the group said.

It also accused the respondents of “allegedly mismanaging public funds which may include domestic and external loans obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies.”

“SERAP demands transparency in the spending of the loans as they are fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.

“The governors and the FCT Minister cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to their states and the FCT.

“Legal obligations to publish the information sought are also imposed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

Metro

Kenya: President Ruto hints at ‘dire’ weather outlook as Cyclone Hidaya nears

Published

23 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

President William Ruto has announced that the severe rains that have been plaguing Kenya for the past several weeks resulting in extensive floods and landslides that have claimed at least 210 lives are expected to intensify further this month.

Kenya, the largest economy in East Africa, has seen widespread destruction of roads, bridges, homes, and other infrastructure due to flooding. More people have died due to the floods than from the El Nino weather phenomena that occurred late last year.

“Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as the situation is expected to escalate. Meteorological reports paint a dire picture,” Ruto said on Kenyan television. “Kenya may face its first-ever cyclone.”

According to the Igad Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, Cyclone Hidaya is predicted to make landfall in Tanzania, Kenya’s southern neighbour, on Saturday. It is forecast to bring with it winds of up to 100 mph and waves that are about eight meters (26 feet) high.

“This cyclone, named Hidaya, that could hit anytime now, is predicted to cause torrential rain, strong winds and powerful and dangerous waves,” Ruto said.

Ruto gave the order to evacuate landslide-prone areas earlier this week and relocate to safer terrain. The government has ordered the evacuation of residents in informal settlements adjacent to rivers and streams, as well as those living close to 178 dams and water reservoirs that are currently on the verge of spilling over.

He had announced that all schools would not reopen for the upcoming semester, which is scheduled to begin this week, until further notice. According to him, the Nairobi County government is coordinating closely with donors and humanitarian organizations to supply food and non-food resources to those affected by the flooding. The county has established 115 camps to house those who have been displaced.

Leaders of the opposition and human rights organizations have criticized Ruto’s government for how it handled the catastrophe.

Human Rights Watch alleged on Thursday that despite warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department a year ago regarding the anticipated impact of flooding induced by El Nino, officials had not promptly implemented a national response plan.