Three prominent Nigerian churches have dismissed allegations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo allocated oil wells to their leaders, Pastors Enoch Adeboye, William Kumuyi and Bishop David Oyedepo.
The allegations were made by the founder and president of the Ministers’ Prayer Network, Reverend Mosy Madugba, in a sermon circulating on social media.
Madugba claimed that Obasanjo allocated oil wells to prominent pastors in Lagos during his presidency, specifically naming the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye; the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo; and the General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi.
His comments have sparked controversy, with some Nigerians questioning the integrity of the religious leaders and demanding evidence to support the allegations.
Kumuyi’s camp dismisses allegation
A senior media aide to Pastor Kumuyi, described the allegation as ridiculous, insisting that the cleric had no interest in oil exploration or similar business ventures.
The aide said Kumuyi remained committed to preaching the gospel and winning souls rather than pursuing commercial interests.
He said, “Let us be frank, does Pastor Kumuyi look like somebody that will be interested in an oil well? Does he look like someone who would toy with such things? Pastor Kumuyi is devoted to the core; he is devoted to the work of God that he is being called into.
“So, the fact that somebody mentioned somewhere that Obasanjo gave him an oil well is ridiculous; we don’t get involved in those things. Our focus is the gospel, how to win souls for the kingdom of God and prepare for heaven; therefore, this is not the kind of thing that he would get involved in.”
Oyedepo’s church challenges claim
Similarly, the Director of Media at Living Faith Church Worldwide, Patrick Nkamiang, rejected the allegation, questioning how a former president could personally distribute oil wells.
He explained that oil wells were not the personal property of the President but natural resources governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nkamiang said, “Oil wells are not that cheap to give away, nor are they the personal property of the President that he can just give to anybody.
“Even if oil wells were that cheap as of the time that he said that they were giving out oil wells, what’s the value of an oil well then? Oil wells do not even belong to Obasanjo, for him to be sharing? They are natural resources that are governed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You cannot just give them away as you like.”
He also maintained that Oyedepo operated a zero-tolerance policy towards gifts and donations that could not be traced to legitimate personal or internally generated income.
However, he ruled out legal action against Madugba, saying the church would rather leave the matter to God.
RCCG demands evidence
The Redeemed Christian Church of God also reacted to the allegation, with an official in its media unit saying the church would not respond further until Madugba provided evidence to substantiate his claims.
When Punch contacted Madugba’s church, an official identified as Blessing Madugba said, “We will get back to you.”
Efforts to obtain Obasanjo’s reaction through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to him before the report was filed.
Allegations generate reactions
The claims have continued to generate mixed reactions on social media.
While some Nigerians expressed concern about their implications for the credibility and independence of religious leaders, others challenged Madugba to provide verifiable details of the alleged oil wells.
No documentary evidence establishing that Obasanjo allocated oil wells to the three pastors was presented in the circulating video.
