UK Probes Winners’ Chapel over Alleged Diversion of Charity Funds

These are really tough times for Pentecostal Churches. Few days after
the Camerounian President Paul Biya ordered the closure of all
Pentecostal churches in the country, United Kingdom authorities
yesterday opened a case against Bishop David Oyedepo's Winners' Chapel
London over issues concerning "misapplication and diversion of charity
funds".
According to UK officials, they are concerned about the nature of the
transfers involving Winners Chapel London with registration number
1134421 and it's World Mission Agency. The case which is being handled
by UK Charity Regulatory Commission is seen by authorities as an abuse
of the law governing religious activities in the country.
In a statement, the commission stated that it has a regulatory case
with the World Mission Agency (1085902) / Winners Chapel London
(1134421), and has considered documents and information shared by the
trustees "and our case is continuing."
The commission further explained: "The concerns that we are looking at
are issues of conflict of interest, an allegation that charitable
funds have been misapplied and concerns about the reputational
management of the charity. We cannotshare further information while
our case is underway and cannot put a timescale on our case atthis
stage."
When THISDAY contacted the organisation for further clarification, a
press officer in the commission, Tallulah Perez-Sphar said the
commission became alarmed when it discovered thatthere were instances
where money transfers involving the church appear shady.
She observed that by the virtue of the commission's powers to keep an
eye on all charitable ventures, it had to open a case against the
church "after several complain and allegations trailing its
activities."
Perez-Sphar told THISDAY that the case relates to the management of
money and funds raised in UK churches. "The case relates very much to
how those charities are being managed and it involves transfer of
funds," she added.
It is believed that Oyedepo's Winners Chapel in UK raised about £16
million between 2008 and 2012. Partof the money was said to have been
transferred to the Nigerian church's headquarters where Oyedepo
ispermanently based.
Investigation into the church financial activities shows that the
World Mission Agency has approximately £8.6 million in assets and
capital. Most of the funds from the UK church have been channeled to
Nigeria under the supervision of the Bishop, insider sources revealed.
It was also established that between 2009 and 2012, a large chunk of
the funds were transferred in questionable circumstances to the
Nigerian church authorities.
A run through the transfer deals shows that in 2011, about £663,532
meant "for onward transmission to the world headquarters in Nigeria"
was carried out. The sum of £324,683 and £149,000 were transferred
between 2010 and 2009, while another £192,000 was also traced to the
Nigeria headquarters within the same period.
The said sums were said to have been transferred under the cover "for
charitable activities in Africa, welfare assistance for undisclosed
purpose, including some payment made as special privileges to certain
members of the church."
The case opened a new vista of investigation targeted at rich Nigerian
pastors operating in the UK. Oyedepo who is estimated by Forbes
Magazine to be worth £90 million, about $140 million owns one of the
biggest churches in Africa, located in the outskirts of Lagos.
He is reputed to own chains of properties including two universities,
housing estates, shopping malls, and private jets. This is not the
first time Oyedepo's church will face scrutiny. There have been
several complaints against the church in the UK. The case also adds to
the numerous cases involving Nigerian pastors, some of whom have all
but left the UK overclaims of amassing wealth largely from church
members.