The Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), Pastor Bolaji Idowu, has vehemently denied allegations of his involvement in real estate fraud and money laundering.
He made the statement during his widely attended Next Level Prayer programme on Wednesday morning, Pastor Idowu clarifying the rumors and dismissing them as false and without merit.
“Over the last 24 hours, there has been a lot of news about me on social media. I just want to state some facts,” Pastor Idowu said, responding to allegations of his involvement in the real estate business.
“I heard that I was involved in real estate. Firstly, I do not have any property in Nigeria. The only property I have in Nigeria is one everyone knows. Secondly, I do not sell or buy properties. I am not in that business.”
NPO reports that the Pastor Idowu was arrested and was under investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigerian police on Tuesday for suspected financial crimes which sparked widespread speculation and controversy online.
The pastor also responded to rumors of financial misconduct, asserting transparency in his financial dealings. “My accounts are public accounts. Go and check if I ever received billions into my accounts,” he said, challenging anyone who doubted his integrity to verify his records.
Pastor Idowu, who leads one of Nigeria’s largest and most influential churches, has built a reputation for his powerful leadership and his Next Level Prayer conferences, which attract thousands of attendees both in Nigeria and internationally. His church, HICC, has a strong presence in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Despite the recent allegations, Pastor Idowu remains at the helm of HICC, continuing his leadership role with the support of his congregation.