Wife of Nigerian artiste, Timi Dakolo, Busola, has asked the Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Biodun Fatoyinbo, to tender a public apology to her for allegedly raping her when she was a teenager.
The celebrity photographer finally dragged Fatoyinbo to court over her rape claims.
A FCT High Court in a writ of summons obtained yesterday dated September 6 and served on Fatoyinbo, ordered the pastor to appear before it within 14 days of the service or judgment may be given in his absence.
It was further gathered that the court may subpoena Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, the Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, KICC, as he has been listed among the witnesses Busola will be using to establish her case.
Busola, through her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi & Co., is seeking the order of the court to compel Fatoyinbo to publish a clearly worded apology to Busola on the front page of at least two national newspapers and two national televisions for seven days running consecutively.
Busola had two months ago made a shocking revelation in a detailed interview of how the Abuja-based cleric raped her as a teenager. She claimed Fatoyinbo had sexual intercourse with her on September 23 and 26, 2002, caused her continuous emotional distress and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The viral video had set social media on fire, evoking shock, backlash and criticisms from Nigerians, especially the Christian community.
Mrs. Dakolo also asked the court to declare that Fatoyinbo’s denial of his alleged acts contained jointly and/or severally through a press statement he released on June 28, 2019, had caused her continuous emotional distress and amounted to intentional infliction of emotional distress on her.
It will be recalled that Fatoyinbo was detained during interrogation over the rape allegation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja last month. He was eventually released on bail.
He had earlier boycotted the panel set up by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria to investigate the rape allegation against him, claiming that he was advised by his lawyers not to appear.