The Redeemed Christian Church of God has taken action against Senior Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, suspending him from his position at the City of David Parish in Lagos State, along with his role as head of the church’s Apapa Family annex. This move follows the recent lavish 60th birthday celebration of his wife, Siju.
Pastor Iluyomade received his suspension letter over the weekend and has been promptly replaced by Pastor Charles Kpandei from the church’s Resurrection Parish Region 11. The decision was made by the Governing Council of the church after a thorough investigation into allegations against Iluyomade and the parish.
The decision to suspend Pastor Iluyomade was influenced by public backlash over the extravagant birthday celebration, which occurred shortly after the tragic death of Access Bank’s CEO, Herbert Wigwe. Some within the church community felt that the timing and grandeur of the event were inappropriate, signaling a lack of sensitivity to Wigwe’s passing, despite his significant contributions to the church.
Despite his suspension, it remains uncertain whether Pastor Iluyomade will continue his role as the Special Assistant to the RCCG General Overseer on Christian Social Responsibility through His Love Foundation.
In addition to concerns surrounding the birthday celebration, the pastor’s suspension is also linked to issues concerning the church’s audit and alleged resistance to being transferred from his current parish. The Governing Council resolved to suspend Pastor Iluyomade for three months, during which time a replacement will oversee the parish’s operations. Furthermore, upon his return, he will be assigned to the church’s headquarters rather than the City of David.
