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Death of Wigwe: RCCG suspends pastor whose wife threw lavish birthday party, details emerge

  • The husband of a lawyer, pastor and founder of Arise Women Foundation, Siju Iluyomade, has reportedly been asked to resign from his post in the City of David Parish Lekki.
  • his wife’s extravagant birthday party his wife hosted a colourful 60th birthday party, days after the tragic death of Herbert Wigwe, a former CEO of Access Holdings and prominent member of the RCCG
  • Legit.ng reports that Wigwe, his wife, son and a family friend died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America in February 2024.

Legit.ng Journalist Esther Odili has more than two years of experience reporting on political parties and movements.

The City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos has suspended Pastor Idowu Iluyomade.

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This follows the extravagant birthday party thrown for his wife shortly after the death of Herbert Wigwe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc.

"RCCG Lagos Parish suspends pastor after his wife threw lavish birthday party amid grief following Wigwe’s death"
RCCG Lagos parish suspends pastor after his wife threw lavish birthday party immediately after Wigwe’s death. Photo credit: @HerbertOWigwe
Source: Twitter

How the RCCG pastor was suspended

According to ChurchTimes, a senior pastor of the church, who wished to remain anonymous, said the decision to suspend Siju Iluyomade’s husband was in response to public outcry against the party.

“It was not Pastor Adeboye who suspended him. The board decided to suspend him. I think it is a decision in the right direction. Although some say it comes too late.”

“They had to investigate some of the things people were saying against him and the church,” the source said.

How was the priest suspended?

His suspension was announced by letter over the weekend, according to sources within the church, Daily Trust reported.

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He was succeeded by Pastor Charles Kpandei of RCCG Resurrection Parish in Region 11 of the church.

How Wigwe died

Wigwe, who died aboard a helicopter in February, was a member of the community.

The late banker died alongside his wife Chizoba, his son Chizi and former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

After his death, the parish priest’s wife, Dr. Siju Iluyomade, threw a lavish birthday party that caused much discussion.

Notable personalities, together with the pastor’s wife, enjoyed the party which was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Some people expressed displeasure at Iluyomade hosting such a party weeks after the tragic death of a prominent member of the church and his wife and son.

How Wigwe’s father lost his first child

In the meantime, Legit.ng reported that Shyngle, father of the late Herbert, had another child through death in old age, 27 years after he buried his first child, Osita. Shyngle said Osita was 34 years old when he died while travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt in 1997.

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The former DG NTA said he was attending a ministerial meeting at the RCCG on June 5, 1997, when Osita was killed in a road accident while travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt.

“I have never sweated so much in my life and I never thought it would happen to me. I couldn’t walk down the aisle for weeks. I would go up, then I would cry and then I would come down again. It was like someone had taken a pair of pliers and ripped out your heart.”

Source: Legit.ng