C.C.C URGES RESTRAINT OVER ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SENIOR EVANGELIST SUNDAY SOFOWORA OF C.C.C SHARON PARISH

Court judgment dismisses alleged marriage suit as church demands evidence over claims against respected Shepherd

The Celestial Church of Christ (C.C.C) stands firmly behind Senior Evangelist Sunday Olufemi Sofowora, Shepherd-in-Charge of Sharon Parish, Ikorodu, Lagos, rejecting what his supporters describe as a campaign of unsubstantiated allegations against the respected clergyman.

At the heart of the defence is a judgment delivered on February 2, 2017, by the Lagos State Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ikorodu, in a suit instituted by one Aderonke Temitope Adekoya, who claimed to be the clergyman’s wife.

The court dismissed and struck out the suit for lack of concrete evidence establishing a marriage, cohabitation or union between the parties. It also ordered the petitioner to stop presenting herself as Mrs Oshofowora and using the respondent’s surname.

The judgment is a matter of public record and provides an important basis for challenging claims that the parties were married.

N20m fraud allegation: Where is the evidence?

One of the allegations reportedly circulated on social media is that Sofowora collected N20 million from the woman under false pretences.

The supplied court judgment contains no evidence establishing that the clergyman collected N20 million from her under false pretences.

Indeed, the judgment records that the petitioner was unable to satisfactorily explain when and where she allegedly gave money to the respondent, despite claiming that he owed her.

An allegation involving N20 million is too serious to be treated as established fact without credible evidence. Anyone making such a claim should be prepared to substantiate it through the appropriate legal channels.

Until then, the public should resist the temptation to convict a man in the court of social media.

Twenty million invitations to a 500-capacity venue?

Another claim attributed to the woman is that she helped invite 20 million people to a crusade organised by Sofowora in Ikorodu.

According to information supplied by the clergyman’s supporters, the venue could only accommodate approximately 500 people.

The obvious question is: how was the figure of 20 million invitations arrived at, and what evidence supports it?

Twenty million is an extraordinary number, particularly in the context of a local crusade. The population of Ikorodu town is nowhere near that figure, although estimates vary according to the geographical boundaries used.

To be clear, inviting people is not the same as having them attend, and invitations could theoretically extend beyond Ikorodu. Nevertheless, a claim of this magnitude demands credible documentation, not mere repetition on social media.

Where are the invitation records, distribution figures or other verifiable evidence?

Until such evidence is produced, the claim should not be presented as established fact or used to discredit the clergyman. The issue is not personal attacks against the claimant; it is the simple demand that an extraordinary assertion be supported by evidence.

Serious allegations demand proof

Other allegations reportedly circulating online include claims of an assault at another Celestial Church of Christ parish at Elekuro, and the alleged involvement of armed men. These are serious accusations that must be substantiated by the accuser.

The same standard must apply to every allegation: neither the status of the accused nor the identity of the accuser should replace evidence.

A call to stop trial by social media

Senior Evangelist Sofowora is respected for his discipline, moral uprightness and commitment to the doctrines of the Celestial Church of Christ. Under his leadership, Sharon Parish has built a substantial congregation and earned recognition within the church community.

The church insists that his reputation should not be destroyed by allegations presented as facts without credible substantiation. It also urges bloggers, online publishers and social media users to verify claims before amplifying them.

Where false or defamatory statements have been published, the affected party may seek appropriate legal remedies. All parties must equally respect applicable court orders and refrain from harassment or intimidation.

The position is unequivocal: the court judgment must speak for what it actually decided, financial allegations must be proved, and the 20-million-invitations claim must be backed by credible evidence. No one should be condemned by social media speculation.

Facts must prevail over insinuation, evidence over exaggeration, and the rule of law over trial by social media.

See Customary Court Judgment papers below:

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