“It’s unfortunate TB Joshua is dead” — Archbishop Peter Ogunmuyiwa

The Archbishop of the African Church in Abuja, Peter Ogunmuyiwa, addressed the recent investigative report surrounding the late Pastor TB Joshua, emphasizing that the report did not implicate the church but focused on allegations against the deceased clergyman.

Ogunmuyiwa stressed that labeling Joshua a criminal would be unjust as no legal charges were brought against him during his lifetime.

In his statement, Ogunmuyiwa lamented the absence of the late pastor to defend himself against the accusations, highlighting the need for an opportunity to address these issues while TB Joshua was alive.

He suggested that the lack of legal conviction during Joshua’s lifetime refrained from branding him as a criminal after his demise.

Expressing his sadness over such reports, particularly as a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogunmuyiwa clarified that the organization lacked legislative powers or specific laws to address such cases within the church.

Despite this, he urged the government to consider instituting regulations to oversee churches and their leaders.

Ogunmuyiwa emphasized the necessity of legislation to ensure proper accreditation and training for pastors, advocating for licensing bodies to monitor theological institutions similar to how universities are regulated.

He said;

“I also believe that, if possible, let there be legislation to regulate. So that people will not just be behaving anyhow.

“You can’t just come out today and say you are a Pastor, which institution, which seminary, which college of theology did you go to before you say you’re a Pastor?

“And then the government should find a way of registering and then licensing those schools to regulate them, just like we have the university commission.

“I think it is high time they introduced that into religious bodies also so that we will be getting ministers that are well trained, and that are recognised by the state,”