LAGOS, Nigeria – In a three-part documentary, the British Broadcasting Corporate, BBC, has exposed startling allegations of abuse and torture by the late Nigerian Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly known as TB Joshua, towards his daughter, Ajoke.
The documentary, released on Monday, January 8, 2024, presents claims from TB Joshua’s disciples, stating that Ajoke, born out of wedlock, endured severe mistreatment and humiliation at the hands of her father.
The late pastor reportedly viewed her existence as a significant threat to his reputation as a spiritual leader.
Ajoke herself recounted a life devoid of paternal affection, alleging that her father forced her into discipleship to sabotage her life.
“It was very difficult to watch this man preach every Sunday on love and mercy. I feel like, maybe I really don’t deserve to be alive,” Ajoke said, describing years of relentless abuse.
Further testimonies from other disciples depict a harrowing picture of life within TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations.
They describe a culture of brainwashing and fanaticism, with Ajoke being particularly targeted due to her birth circumstances. “The disciples were both brainwashed and enablers… Ajoke grew inside the Synagogue like an outcast,” one disciple stated.
The BBC’s investigation, which includes accounts from over 25 former church members across multiple countries, alleges a pattern of abuse spanning nearly three decades, up until 2019.
Many of the British victims were reportedly between 15 and 21 years old when they joined the church, with several interviewees likening their experiences to being in a cult.
TB Joshua, who passed away in June 2021, was celebrated as a prominent and influential figure in African evangelical circles.
His church attracted a global following, including political leaders and celebrities, bolstered by his rise from poverty in Nigeria during the 1990s.
In response to the allegations presented in the documentary, the current leadership of the Synagogue Church of All Nations stated, “Making unfounded allegations against Prophet TB Joshua is not a new occurrence.”
However, they did not directly address the specific details of the allegations, according to the BBC.
This revelation casts a shadow on the legacy of TB Joshua, raising critical questions about the hidden realities behind his influential ministry.
As the church’s leadership dismisses these claims as unsubstantiated, the testimonies of Ajoke and other former members paint a starkly different and disturbing portrait of the late pastor’s private life and conduct.
