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BBC Unravels Late TB Joshua’s Atrocities
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced plans to release a three-part investigative documentary uncovering alleged atrocities and sexual crimes linked to the late Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, also known as TB Joshua.
Scheduled for release on January 8, the documentary explores claims made by approximately 30 ex-members and employees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).
Recall that TB Joshua passed away on June 5, 2021.
In the unveiled three-part documentary, the secretive life of the late founder of SCOAN was exposed, uncovering accounts of abuse, harassment, rape, manipulation, and orchestrated miracles.
According to sources interviewed by the BBC, despite being aware of these allegations, the church purportedly failed to conduct any investigations.
Allegations of sexual crimes are reported to have spanned more than twenty years.
A segment of the documentary uncovered SCOAN’s efforts to conceal the truth surrounding the collapse of one of its guesthouses in 2014 from its members.
The documentary highlighted a video repeatedly aired on Emmanuel TV, displaying a brief clip of the structure with an object resembling an aircraft flying overhead.
According to a source who lost her daughter in the collapsed building, “On television, they were showing us the building had been bombed,” reflecting the misinformation provided to the congregation.
Situated in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos State, SCOAN evolved from a local evangelical church into a multimillion-dollar establishment drawing worshippers globally.
Disputing the aircraft story told to members, Emmanuel, a former aide to TB Joshua, asserted to the BBC that the church concealed a structural flaw.
Rae, a British church attendee and disciple, supported this claim, stating that the building’s foundation was inadequate for the constructed floors.
Additionally, she mentioned that despite expert advice, Joshua persisted in raising the building.
In the documentary, Emmanuel, another SCOAN worker, revealed that they were instructed not to disclose their knowledge about the building’s issues.
Despite awareness of the problem, SCOAN managed it internally. The church compensated victims’ families with cash, which some perceived as “hush money.”
According to a church worker involved in distributing the compensation in South Africa, TB Joshua instructed them to advise families against speaking to the media.
Allegedly, the worker stated that Joshua personally threatened those who declined the compensation.
Rae characterized the building collapse as a typical example of the cover-ups prevalent in TB Joshua’s regime, acknowledging the enormity of the incident, making it nearly impossible for him to suppress.
Rae said “The building collapse is a good example of everyday life under TB Joshua. It is just a series of cover-ups. It is just this was so big it was almost impossible for him to make it go away,”
The BBC found that people were dismembered under the rubble and dead bodies were transferred in SCOAN ambulances to shield the reality of the disaster from the press to protect both the image of the church and TB Joshua.
Survivors of TB Joshua’s sexual exploitation narrated how they were manipulated and silenced even when they knew the relationship they had with “daddy” was abusive.
These women were part of TB Joshua’s discipleship.
Multiple women narrated how he molested and raped them. A few women who resisted his assault at first were threatened into submission, one of the women told the BBC.
TB Joshua told the women he was sexually assaulting them for their salvation, all the women said.
These women joined the synagogue when they were teenagers and spent years before finally leaving.
A woman identified as Abisola said she was in the church for 14 years and was raped throughout her stay. 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.
One of the women said “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.”
According to a source within the miracle department interviewed by the BBC, the documentary exposed the church’s practice of orchestrating and magnifying miracles televised to the public.
Individuals were allegedly instructed to exaggerate their ailments to facilitate healing and then embellish their healing experiences to demonstrate that it was “perfected by God.”
Rae asked “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 Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised concerns over alleged monopolistic practices by Dangote Refinery, following a public dispute about fuel pricing in the downstream petroleum sector.
Recall that the refinery, Africa’s largest, recently disclosed its petrol pricing at N990 per litre in trucks and N960 per litre into ships, a move it justifies as being in line with international rates.
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PETROAN, however, sees this as an attempt to suppress competitors and dominate the Nigerian market.
The rift began when Dangote Refinery claimed that complaints from marketers regarding its pricing were fueled by intentions to import cheaper, potentially substandard products.
In response, PETROAN strongly rejected these allegations, suggesting that Dangote’s claims are tactics designed to maintain a monopoly in the sector.
Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s spokesperson, stated that the association remains committed to importing high-quality products at more competitive rates to ensure affordability for Nigerian consumers.
According to PETROAN, competition in the market is essential for achieving fair pricing, and any attempt to stifle it would be detrimental to consumers.
They argue that Dangote Refinery’s pricing should reflect production costs and fair margins rather than international benchmarks, especially given concessions granted by the government for the refinery’s establishment.
PETROAN also announced its plans to partner with foreign refineries and financial backers to import premium-quality petroleum products at prices below current rates.
The association aims to enter the market by December 2024, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
“The allegations that PETROAN will import substandard products are unfounded and aimed at creating an unfair playing field,” the statement read.
PETROAN warned that similar claims in the past had led to significant price hikes when competitors were pushed out, emphasizing that the entry of new players into the market would lead to more competitive pricing and ultimately benefit Nigerian consumers.
PETROAN expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s state-owned refineries and urged the government to consider privatizing the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries once rehabilitation is complete.
The association believes a transparent privatization process will help strengthen Nigeria’s downstream sector and counter monopolistic tendencies.
To address the ongoing pricing challenges in the sector, PETROAN called on the government to convene a comprehensive meeting of industry stakeholders, including major associations like IPMAN, DAPPMAN, MEMAN, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN.
PETROAN believes that collaboration among these groups will be instrumental in establishing a sustainable and competitive pricing framework for petroleum products in Nigeria.
Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Mohammad Abubakar II, has called on Nigerians to avoid publicly criticizing their leaders, instead urging citizens to place their trust in God to address leadership concerns as He deems fit.
Speaking at the Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, organized by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith in collaboration with International Alert, the Sultan emphasized faith and patience in navigating the country’s challenges.
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Acknowledging Nigeria’s current economic and social hardships, the Sultan encouraged continuous prayer, not only for the nation but for its leaders as well.
“Even though many feel times are particularly hard, we believe relief will come. Let’s increase our prayers for our leaders, trusting God to address them in His way,” he said, expressing hope that divine intervention could bring stability and prosperity.
The Sultan reminded political leaders of their ultimate accountability to God, cautioning that they will stand alone on the Day of Resurrection, with only their deeds to support them.
“On that day, every leader will stand alone. Governors, advisers—none will have support except their own deeds. Let us act with a deep sense of responsibility and fear of God,” he stated.
Addressing religious leaders, he warned against misleading their followers for personal gain, underscoring the trust many place in their religious guidance.
“Only God can save any human being,” he said, encouraging Nigerians to remain faithful and discerning in their spiritual beliefs. “Focus on worshiping Allah and leave the rest to Him. Don’t follow those who might lead you astray.”
With leaders from various religious communities, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in attendance, the Sultan called for unity, resilience, and communal effort to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, poverty, and insecurity in the northern region.
He praised the North’s history of unity and resilience, warning against divisive narratives that threaten communal harmony. “When we are united, we can face any challenge and build a prosperous community,” he asserted.
The Sultan’s remarks come amid ongoing social and environmental issues in the region, including a recent surge in climate-related challenges that have exacerbated poverty and security threats.
In light of these issues, he called on both Muslims and Christians to intensify their prayers, saying, “Our country faces many challenges, and we must turn to God in prayer. Let us intensify prayers in our mosques and churches.”
In a decisive move, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all minors detained by police during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
The directive, announced by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday, underscores the government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and ensuring justice.
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Idris confirmed that President Tinubu’s directive prioritizes the welfare of detained minors, instructing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to facilitate their safe reunification with their families.
A committee led by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs will be established to oversee the welfare of the released minors and ensure compliance with the president’s orders.
Additionally, President Tinubu has directed a formal investigation into the actions of law enforcement agencies involved in the arrests.
The president emphasized that any misconduct uncovered during the investigation will result in disciplinary action, affirming his administration’s dedication to accountability within law enforcement.
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