The BBC announced on Monday that it has discovered proof of widespread abuse and torture by the late Prophet Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).
According to a BBC story, scores of former SCOAN members, including five British nationals, have accused the late TB Joshua of atrocities.
According to the BBC, SCOAN did not comment to the charges, but stated that prior claims were baseless.
Here are five of the claims made against TB Joshua throughout the two-year probe.
Widespread abuse and torture
Joshua was responsible for dozens of eyewitness allegations of physical violence or torture, including cases of child abuse and whipping and chaining.
Carla, Rae’s close friend, told the BBC that they both traveled to Nigeria in quest of a strange man who claimed to be able to heal people with his hands.
“He was a Christian pastor with a black beard and white robes. His name was TB Joshua. Carla explained that his supporters referred to him as “The Prophet.”
Carla noted that she and Rae only planned to visit the Synagogue church for a week.
According to Carla, Rae returned to the UK, particularly after moving into Joshua’s compound.
“I left her there,” Carla replies, her tears falling freely. “I will never, ever forgive myself for that.
“For me, it was like she died, but I couldn’t grieve her,” Carla recounted as a result of her friend’s abuse and suffering.
Abortions
A number of ladies said that Joshua compelled them to get abortions in the church. This comes as a result of the late Pastor’s numerous rapes, including one woman who claims she had five abortions for him.
Jessica Kaimu of Namibia said her suffering lasted more than five years. According to Kaimu, Joshua first raped her when she was 17 years old.
She also stated that repeated rapes by TB Joshua resulted in her having five forced abortions while at the church.
“These were backdoor type… medical treatments that we were going through… it could have killed us,” she was quoted as saying by the BBC.
Phony “miracle healings”
Joshua’s “miracle healings” were transmitted to millions of people in Nigeria and around the world, according to numerous firsthand testimonials.
Agomoh Paul, Joshua’s number two at SCOAN who departed after residing in the compound for at least a decade (10 years), disclosed that the entire miracle was staged.
“That guy was a genius.” Paul stated, “Everything he did was planned.”
According to Paul, fabricating the “miracles” was an important element of this strategy, which he oversaw.
Cult-like operations in synagogue
Several other interviewees likened their experiences at the Synagogue church to being in a cult.
Other interviewees told the BBC that they were undressed, whipped with electrical cords and horse whips, and often refused sleep in scenes reminiscent of cult operations.