A woman has accused a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) of attempting to sexually assault her during a church service at a parish located near the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso.
The incident reportedly occurred during a service session, where the woman made her allegations publicly, claiming the pastor had previously invited her to his residence under the pretext of delivering food. She alleged that during the visit, the cleric made unwanted advances despite her resistance.
The pastor, identified as Pastor Sobowale, denied the allegation of rape, insisting that any interaction between them was consensual. He maintained that the claims being made were inaccurate and misrepresented the nature of their encounter.
Screenshots of WhatsApp conversations reportedly circulating online show exchanges between the complainant and the pastor, in which she confronted him over alleged previous demands, while he responded with an apology. The authenticity of the screenshots has not been independently verified.
The situation reportedly escalated during the church service, with claims that other women also came forward with similar allegations against the pastor. However, these additional claims remain unverified, and no formal complaints have been confirmed by authorities at the time of reporting.
As of Monday, there has been no official statement from the Redeemed Christian Christian Church of God or confirmation of any internal investigation into the matter.
Similarly, police authorities in Oyo State have not released an official statement confirming receipt of a complaint or launching an investigation into the allegations.
The incident has sparked discussion on social media, with users calling for a thorough and transparent investigation while others urge caution pending official findings.
Legal and religious observers note that such allegations require careful handling, including proper investigation by security agencies and adherence to due process to establish the facts.
As of press time, the claims remain allegations, and no court proceedings or formal disciplinary outcomes have been announced.
