The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has suspended the Senior Pastor of the City of David Parish of the church, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade.

It was gathered that the suspension of Iluyomade, who is also the head of the Apapa Family of the RCCG, was announced via a letter over the weekend.

He has since been replaced by Pastor Charles Kpandei of RCCG Resurrection Parish of Region 11 of the church.

It was learnt that Kpandei resumed at the City of David on Sunday, June 2, and was given a cold welcome.

“Those in the City of David had been expecting Pastor Kpandei. Some top RCCG officials had to meet with some top people in the parish and confided in them that Pastor Idowu would have to be removed from the parish.

“They needed to get the confidence of these top people because of the great influence of pastor Iluyomade in the parish. The RCCG was not sure of the outcome of its move, so it had to be discreet. He may not be returned to the parish after the suspension.

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“We have just three months to the convention. It may be a way of taking him away from the place permanently. He has spent many years in that parish. He needed to be moved,” sources told Church Times.

According to sources, Iluyomade was suspended for three months by the Governing Council of the church. A panel has also been set up to investigate some of the allegations against him and the parish.

A top pastor in the church, who craved anonymity, disclosed that the decision to suspend Iluyomade was a response to the public outcry against the extravagant birthday party of his wife shortly after the death of the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe.

“It was not Pastor Adeboye that suspended him. The governing council decided to suspend him. I think it’s a decision in the right direction. Though some believe it is coming late. They needed to investigate some of the things people were saying against him and the church,” the pastor said.

Fondly called PID, Pastor Iluyomade has been in the eyes of the storm following the 60th birthday of his wife, Siji Iluyomade.

Many people believed the birthday which was celebrated just about a week after the death of Wigwe in a helicopter crash in the United States was in bad taste.

Apart from being in charge of the City of David, Iluyomade is the Special Assistant to the RCCG General Overseer on Christian Social Responsibility through His Love Foundation. It’s not clear yet if this responsibility has been taken from him too.

Iluyomade is a lawyer of close to 40 years with interests in Advocacy and commercial practice especially in the areas of International Trade Finance, Mergers and acquisitions, international Joint Ventures, Energy Law, and a host of other engagements.

The Star