Petition to Protest COZA Trustees to take action regarding multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Pst Biodun Fatoyinbo
Background & Explanation
Reports of accusation of sexual misconduct against the Snr. Pst of COZA has been agog social media in a while. First with Ms. Ese Walters in 2013. Most recently with Mrs. Busola Dakolo in a video interview on YTV .
Accusations of sexual violence like rape by women should not be taken lightly particularly by the church - a place of succour and refuge.
Leadership of the Church need to be awakened that they are not exempted from accountability and authority.
COZA needs to take a stance that no form of misconduct is permitted by leadership under any disguise. This should be investigated with no favours.
Action Petitioned For:
We, the undersigned, are concerned that allegations are taken lightly by the church and are calling for COZA Trustees and Executive council and leaders to act now to:
1) Automatically institute an in-house investigation with no partiality or favours
We demand that an in-house committee should be set up to investigate accusations as well as the happenings in the pastoral care and shine light into other areas to get to the bottom of this. Like a truth and reconciliation commission. This will give others who are wounded or those who just need to bear their burdens an opportunity to do so.
2) Step down of Pst Fatoyinbo as Snr Pastor and non functional during the sitting of the above committee.
We demand that Pst Biodun Fatoyinbo step down as senior pastor of the church during this time for transparency and integrity of committee's report.
3) Mandate the committee to propose recommendations in readdressing management of conflict and disciplinary processes within the church.
We demand that during the reporting process and before a decision is reached by the Committee, the church should make arrangements to ensure that respondents with a complaint are not stigmatized and that survivors may continue their worship path without re- traumatization.
4) Uphold the virtues of Christ*
We demand that the administration uphold the virtues of Christ in all truth not wavering or showing favourism. An accuse cannot be defending himself still holding the rudder of leadership. This is not a war on the church but a person.
We are a coalition of gender advocates and all we want is for justice to prevail and healing for wounded.
We demand accountability, because we know that where there is Power( be it in church, Mosque, work institutions, or places of learning, even in the family) there is bound to be abuse, if unchecked.
To this end, we are staging a peaceful protest at Coza Church, Lagos, Sheba center, 20 Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja GRA, Lagos
*Time of convening : 8.45am, at the FCMB Bank close to Sheba Center .
Signed :
Herfessions
Heartminders Initiative
Bruised but not Broken Initiative
Media Concern Initiative -for Women & Children (MediaCon)
IProtect
Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode
Osasu Paul- Azino
Tonia Ojenagbon
Funke Oguntuga
Help for Victims of Domestic Abuse Foundation
A Girl Project
Above Whispers Foundation
Laila St Matthew-Daniel
ACTS Generation GBV
Alliances for Africa
Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative (GAJI)
Centre for Children's Health, Orientation, Education and Protection (CEE-HOPE)
Kathlyn Eyitemi
Women advocates research and Documentation Center
Women’s rights and health project
Amazing Grace Inspirations.
Global Rights
Centre for Womens Health and Information
Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation
Initiative for Sustaining Family Unity
Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence
Women Law and Development Centre (WLDCN)
Centre for womens Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP)
Greenspring Development Initiative
Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
Girls Inspired Development Network
FAME Foundation
Women Africa
Alliance for Inclusion
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Daria Media Foundation
Women Radio 91.7
Vision Spring initiatives
Lateef K. Akinborode,
Aderonke Oyelakin
Bintu Ajao
HEIR Women Development
Esther Ijewere
Women of Rubies
Mercy Makinde
Amazing Amazon
Feyi Luther Mbanugo
Project Alert on Violence Against Women
Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative
Uzoma Aneto
NDOF - Nde Oduko Foundation
Dr. Charmaine Pereira
Working Moms Africa
Emerge Women
Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre
Cece Yara Foundation
Int Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
First Future Leadership in the protest
Matilda Otitoloju-Iyaniwura
Ngozi Ekwerike-Okoro
Child to Child Network
Ngozi Nwosu-Juba
Nigerian Women Trust Fund
Association against Child Sexual and Gender
Based Violence
Noble Delta Women for Peace and Development
Vision Spring initiatives
Take a Cue Development initiative
Morenike Omaiboje
Women's Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Feyi Luther Mbanugo
Wumi Asubiaro Dada
WREP
Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC)
Network of Organizations of Women With Disabilities (NOWWD)
BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women
Education as a Vaccine
Black Women of Influence and Inspiration
Centre for Media Resources in Development (CEMERDEV).
BrenCare Foundation
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Virgin Heart Foundation
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