Timi Adigun, a pastor at The Ark Church in Lagos, has apologised for engaging in “inappropriate behaviour’ with female members over the years.
On Thursday, the internet was inundated with sexual allegations against Adigun, who doubles as a coordinator of the MINE Teenage Ministry.
The 35-year-old, who edits for the MINE Magazine, a free Christian teenage magazine that preaches sexual purity, was accused of sexually abusing teenage girls under his mentorship.
Akan Imoh, a public relations (PR) expert, who resides close to the Lagos church, said he confirmed the allegations after conducting an investigation alongside two other journalists who spoke with the victims, leaders of the church, and its former pastors.
Amid the backlash that trailed Adigun following a viral Facebook post by Imoh, the Lagos-based pastor took to his Instagram page to pen a public apology.
Adigun, while admitting to have gone against his teachings, however, said his “inappropriate engagements” with the church members didn’t involve sexual intercourse.
“I’ve been called out on social media platforms. I want to say I’m deeply sorry to everyone my actions and inactions have hurt. The truth is, I was involved in inappropriate behaviour with females over a couple of years,” he wrote.
“I went against the sexual purity message I preach and believe in and I am so sorry. I failed those of you who look up to me. Please find a place in your hearts to forgive me.
“I want to humbly state that there was no sexual intercourse with any, none was a minor, and my wife did not know about these actions while they happened. I apologised to God, my wife, in-laws, my family and ministry members. I have apologised several times to ALL the ladies involved and also apologised to some’s family members.
“The final apology came in September when I sent voice note apologies to all of them for taking advantage of their trust in me and they all, at different times, accepted my apology.
“I am 100% open and faithful to my wife now and I know deep within that I have repented. Please give me an opportunity to prove so. I still believe in sexual purity and I hope to be a worthy example, again, soon enough.
“I had stepped down in October from ministry and church. I only maintained a fellowship for the people that still wanted me to teach them the WORD. So, it is a fellowship running in the interim, not a church as at now.”
By Stephen Kenechukwu