RCCG suspends Pastor Iluyomade from City of David — News — The Guardian Nigeria News – News from Nigeria and the World

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has reportedly suspended Idowu Iluyomade, the senior pastor of the City of David Church, a branch of the church located on the island in Lagos State.

Iluyomade is said to have been suspended for three months by the church’s board of directors over the weekend.

According to the report, a panel has also been set up to investigate some of the allegations made against Iluyomade and the City of David congregation.

“A senior pastor at the church said the decision to suspend Iluyomade was in response to public outcry against his wife’s extravagant birthday party shortly after the death of former Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe,” the report said.

Iluyomade, who is also the head of the Apapa family of the RCCG, had hosted a lavish party in the United Kingdom (UK) to celebrate the 60th birthday of his wife Siji Iluyomade in February 2024.

The birthday celebration was organized just a week after the tragic death of Wigwe, his wife, son and another person in a helicopter crash in the United States of America (USA) on February 9.

Meanwhile, the controversial Iluyomade has been replaced as pastor of the City of David by Rev. Charles Kpandei of the RCCG Resurrection Church in Region 11.

“The people of David town were expecting Pastor Kpandei. Some senior RCCG officials had to meet with some top people in the community and confide in them that Pastor Idowu must be removed from the community,” the report added.

“They had to gain the trust of these top people because Rev. Iluyomade had a lot of influence in the parish. The RCCG was unsure of the consequences of their actions and therefore had to proceed discreetly. He is not allowed to return to the parish after his suspension.

“There are only three months until the meeting. This could be an opportunity to get him out of this place permanently. He spent many years in this community. He needed to move.”

According to the report, it was not the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who suspended Iluyomade, but the church’s Board of Directors took the decision.