The late pastor of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Pastor Temitope Balogun, well known as TB Joshua has been accused of alleged atrocities and sexual crimes, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports.
This development was disclosed by BBC after the media outfit claimed they interviewed at least 30 former members and workers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).
BBC has promised to release a three-part investigative documentary outlining the alleged atrocities and sexual crimes committed by the late pastor, who Joshua passed away on June 5, 2021.
Interestingly, the covert lifestyle of the deceased SCOAN founder, detailed instances of abuse, harassment, rape, manipulation, and staged miracles.
According to BBC, sources revealed that the sexual crimes spanned over two decades, as the church was aware of all the allegations, but they never investigated them.
SCOAN which grew from a local evangelical church into a multimillion-dollar establishment with worshippers from around the world, is situated in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos State.
Part of the documentary reveals how SCOAN stopped its congregation from revealing the truth about the collapse of one of the church’s guesthouses in 2014.
A video repeatedly shown to members on Emmanuel TV depicted a brief clip of the structure with what appeared to be an aircraft flying over it.
Emmanuel, a former worker at SCOAN, revealed to the BBC that the narrative about an aircraft was entirely false. He asserted that the church building had a structural defect. Additionally, Rae, a British woman who attended the church and was a disciple, corroborated this claim. She added that despite professional advice against it, Joshua insisted on raising the building, which had an inadequate foundation for its constructed floors.
Following the tragedy, SCOAN compensated victims’ families with cash, which some interpreted as “hush money.” Sources revealed that TB Joshua instructed a church worker, part of the team distributing compensation in South Africa, to advise grieving families against speaking to the media. Allegedly, Joshua personally threatened families who refused the money.
“The building collapse is a prime example of life under TB Joshua. It’s a series of cover-ups. This incident was so significant that it was nearly impossible for him to conceal,” Rae said.
The BBC investigation also discovered that individuals were dismembered under the rubble, and deceased bodies were transported in SCOAN ambulances to shield the true extent of the disaster from the press, protecting both the church’s image and TB Joshua.
Sexual Exploitation
Survivors of TB Joshua’s sexual exploitation recounted how they were manipulated and silenced, even when aware that the relationship they had with “daddy” was abusive. These women were part of TB Joshua’s discipleship. Multiple women shared their experiences of being molested and raped by him. Some women who initially resisted his assault were threatened into submission, as revealed by one of the women in an interview with the BBC.
According to all the women, TB Joshua justified his sexual assaults by claiming it was for their salvation. These women joined the synagogue as teenagers and endured years of abuse before finally leaving. Abisola, a woman who spent 14 years in the church, disclosed that she was raped throughout her stay. Additionally, when these women became pregnant from the assaults, they were coerced into having abortions at a squalid clinic within the synagogue.
One of the women recounted her experience: “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 survivor managed to escape and confronted TB Joshua, recording the encounter in videos shared with the BBC. In the video, a security officer was heard threatening to shoot the woman. Survivors detailed being targeted, beaten, and shot at by suspected thugs associated with the pastor.
The BBC’s documentary uncovered how the church orchestrated, managed, and exaggerated miracles showcased on television. Individuals were instructed to amplify their problems for healing, and likewise, their healing was exaggerated to appear “perfected by God,” according to a source from the miracle department interviewed by the BBC.
