The President, Forum of Nigerian Women in Politics, (FONWIP), Hon Amb. Dr. Florence Gbinigie (JP) has condemned the atrocities alleged to have been committed against women by the late Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, widely known as TB Joshua, the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).
This is a reaction to a documentary released by the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC exposing the covert lifestyle and instances of abuse, harassment, rape, manipulation, and staged miracles by late TB, Joshua.
Hon Gbinigie, who championed the domestication of the child right act into a law, was also the commissioner for women affairs and social development, in Edo State said, if the allegations are true, such acts are totally unacceptable and demand justice for the affected survivors.
She said Rape is defined by section 357 of the criminal code act thus: “Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent means.
“We therefore condemn the act as being barbaric and an offence against the victims who could not defend themselves while the Prophet was alive, but are now coming out to expose the atrocities going on inside the church,
“According to the documentary of the BBC, the sexual exploitation by TB Joshua who passed away on June 5, 2021, of members of his congregation spanned over two decades and for that period the fundamental human rights of the women and ladies were violated.
“We want to urge others who are passing through the same fate with any leader of all sorts, religious or otherwise, to please cry out and refuse to be intimidated and subjected to inhuman treatment by anybody irrespective of the person’s status.
“As a Civil Society and Women’s right group, FONWIP was deeply concerned and worried by the BBC allegations against Prophet TB Joshua because is is a heinous act and should not be allowed to go on anywhere” she added, while called on government and other similar organizations to join forces in addressing such menace from the society, for, ” Injustice done to one is injustice done to all.”