The case against the COZA Pastor may be more serious than previously thought

For the police to drill Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo for over 8 hours straight, it tells you they have something strongly incriminating against him. The interrogation team was led by a senior female police officer in the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Adaku Anya.

Fatoyinbo was questioned at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Garki Area 10, Abuja. Two other pastors from COZA were questioned the same day.

There is a wholly different approach to this investigation, which shows rare professionalism on the part of the police. The police interviewed many other witnesses before getting to the suspect. That ensured they had strong background material before they finally got to interrogate him.

What is the kind of evidence that the police would find interesting in a 20-year old rape case? The DPA legal team has analyzed the case and has identified the following possible evidence.

(1) The victim’s diary, if any. Some people keep daily or weekly or monthly diaries of what happens in their lives. If this lady has kept such diary, her record of the rape when it occurred will be strong evidence that she didn’t just make it up.

(2) Testimonies of people like friends and relatives she spoke to when it happened and any notes and diaries those people took then will be relevant.

(3) Any further communications between the pastor and the the victim during which the pastor apologized or tried to explain why he had sex with her. Example: A text message that says something like: “That was before I became a born again” is incriminating .

(4) Evidence that the victim complained or reported the matter to other pastors then.

(5) Evidence of obstruction of justice, witness suppression, etc. Any evidence that after the victim went to the press or police, the pastor sent people to either threaten her or to intimidate her or to beg her to forgive and forget will be highly relevant. Remember that about a month ago, it was reported that some policemen went to the victim and tried to force her to sign a document. Recall that the IG later ordered an investigation into the actions of those officers. It is possible that the police found out that the pastor sponsored such illegal police operation. If so, that is strong evidence of cover-up.

(6) There may be pattern evidence involved. If the police have evidence about other victims, the police may interview those other victims to know if there has been a pattern of predatory conduct.

(7) Maybe other pastors or church officials who don’t like this pastor leaked to the police church record of other complaints against this pastor.

The important thing is that the police have good reasons to pursue this case. They were not going to release the pastor on bail without stringent bail conditions.

This case is important for Nigerians. A rape victim, who is a celebrity, risked public condemnation to come forward to report rape 20 years after the fact. That is a strong message to other victims that it is okay to come forward. It is also, the first time the long arm of Nigerian law is reaching so far back in time to hold a person criminally responsible. And the fact that the suspect is a powerful and influential man is a breath of fresh air.

DPA will be following this case closely and reporting to our members. Stay tuned.