The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is preparing to unveil a three-part investigative documentary on January 8, exposing alleged atrocities and sexual crimes associated with the late Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, widely known as TB Joshua. The investigation involved interviews with at least 30 former members and workers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), the religious institution founded by Joshua.
The documentary aims to uncover the clandestine aspects of the deceased founder’s life, revealing instances of abuse, harassment, rape, manipulation, and staged miracles. Reports suggest that the church was aware of these allegations but did not initiate any investigations. The alleged sexual crimes are said to have transpired over a period of two decades.
Part of the investigative findings discloses how SCOAN allegedly obscured the truth surrounding the collapse of one of its guesthouses in 2014. The documentary contends that the church falsely portrayed the incident as an aircraft-related event through a video repeatedly shown to members on Emmanuel TV. Former SCOAN worker Emmanuel and British attendee Rae assert that the collapse resulted from structural defects in the building, contradicting the church’s narrative.
SCOAN, initially a local evangelical church located in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos State, evolved into a multimillion-dollar establishment with a global congregation. TB Joshua, the charismatic founder, passed away on June 5, 2021. The upcoming documentary is anticipated to provide a comprehensive exploration of the controversial aspects of Joshua’s life and the activities within the SCOAN.
Following the tragedy, SCOAN compensated victims’ families with cash, which some interpreted as “hush money.” Sources revealed that TB Joshua instructed a church worker, part of the team distributing compensation in South Africa, to advise grieving families against speaking to the media. Allegedly, Joshua personally threatened families who refused the money.
“The building collapse is a prime example of life under TB Joshua. It’s a series of cover-ups. This incident was so significant that it was nearly impossible for him to conceal,” Rae said.
The BBC investigation also discovered that individuals were dismembered under the rubble, and deceased bodies were transported in SCOAN ambulances to shield the true extent of the disaster from the press, protecting both the church’s image and TB Joshua.
Sexual Exploitation
Survivors of TB Joshua’s sexual exploitation recounted how they were manipulated and silenced, even when aware that the relationship they had with “daddy” was abusive. These women were part of TB Joshua’s discipleship. Multiple women shared their experiences of being molested and raped by him. Some women who initially resisted his assault were threatened into submission, as revealed by one of the women in an interview with the BBC.
According to all the women, TB Joshua justified his sexual assaults by claiming it was for their salvation. These women joined the synagogue as teenagers and endured years of abuse before finally leaving. Abisola, a woman who spent 14 years in the church, disclosed that she was raped throughout her stay. Additionally, when these women became pregnant from the assaults, they were coerced into having abortions at a squalid clinic within the synagogue.
One of the women recounted her experience: “We went into his room, and I stood there. He said, ‘Off your clothes,’ so I removed my clothes. He just pointed, so I lay down, and then he raped me. He broke my virginity. I was screaming, and he was whispering in my ears that I should stop acting like a baby. I was 17 years old. I was underage.’”
