BBC Investigative Documentary Exposes Alleged Abuse by Late Pastor TB Joshua Towards Daughter
“BBC Investigative Documentary Exposes Alleged Abuse by Late Pastor TB Joshua Towards Daughter”
A recent three-part investigative documentary by the BBC has shed light on disturbing allegations of abuse and torture inflicted by the late Nigerian Pastor, Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly known as TB Joshua, upon his daughter, Ajoke.
In the documentary, TB Joshua’s disciples divulged shocking details, asserting that Ajoke was born outside of lawful marriage and became the target of constant torture and humiliation by the renowned cleric. According to them, TB Joshua perceived her existence as a significant threat to his reputation as a revered man of God.
Ajoke shared her painful experience, revealing that she never experienced fatherly affection from TB Joshua and that her father forced her to be a disciple, contributing to the ruin of her life.
“It was very difficult to watch this man preach every Sunday. Topics about love and mercy felt strange coming from his lips. I stared at myself in the mirror lots of times, hoping maybe I didn’t resemble him. Maybe. For as long as I can remember, I had been raised as TB Joshua’s daughter,” she expressed.
The emotional toll on Ajoke was immense, enduring years of consistent abuse. She remarked, “That kind of pain cannot be put into words. I feel like, you know, maybe I really don’t deserve to be alive. We are talking about years and years of abuse, consistent abuse, abuse that wasn’t ending.”
Ajoke also revealed that other disciples joined her father in compounding the humiliation, emphasizing the group’s cult-like mentality.
Former members who spoke to the BBC from various locations, including the UK, Nigeria, US, South Africa, Ghana, Namibia, and Germany, provided corroborating testimony about their experiences within the church, spanning three decades up to 2019. Several likened their experiences to being part of a cult.
Despite the serious allegations, TB Joshua, who passed away in June 2021, was celebrated as one of the most influential pastors in African history. The BBC approached the current leadership of the Synagogue Church of All Nations with the allegations, to which they responded: “Making unfounded allegations against Prophet TB Joshua is not a new occurrence.” The leadership did not substantiate the allegations or respond to their details, as reported by the BBC.
