The United Kingdom Charity Commission has launched a probe into the transfer
of at least N941 million (£3.6 million) by the Christ Embassy church to overseas
entities between 2008 and 2012, according to Premium Times. Already, the
commission has appointed an interim manager to take over the management of the
UK branch of the church.
The founder of the church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Anita, are currently in a UK court for divorce. Mrs. Oyakhilome accuses her husband of “adultery” and “unreasonable behaviour”. Pastor Chris has denied the charges.
The Charity Commission, according to the online platform, said it has opened a statutory inquiry to investigate Christ Embassy over “a number of serious concerns relating to the use of charitable funds, in particular large connected party payments and the potential misapplication of grant funding.”
The inquiry is to “determine whether there has been any mismanagement or misconduct on behalf of the charity trustees; to establish whether charitable funds have been properly applied and take appropriate remedial action if necessary.” The Charity Commission is the regulator of charities in England and Wales, snd only opened to investigate “the most serious” regulatory breaches.
According to the online medium, the investigation was initiated in July 2013, but after interviewing members of the board of trustees and perusing the records and books of the church for a year, the commission was still not convinced that the church has been prudent in managing its finances. Subsequently, the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, has withheld N711.4 million (£ 2.7 million) due to the church in donation between 2008 and 2012 until the conclusion is resolved.
On August 11, the commission effectively sidelined the church’s board of trustees and appointed an interim manager to take over the management of the church. Subsequently, the commission has appointed Rod Weston of the international audit and accounting firm, Mazars, to take over the running of the church in what the charity regulator described as a “temporary and protective measure.” Weston is expected “take over the management of the charity, including its staff, assets, interests, and relations with third parties” until investigation is concluded.
Also, Weston is expected to discharge the functions of the church’s trustees and take steps necessary to secure and take control of the assets of the church. The commission, however, added that the activities of the church would not be suspended by the appointment as the Interim Manager is expected to work with the pastors of the church to ensure its religious and charity activities continue as before.
The online medium stated that a study of the churches financial statement from 2009 to 2012 posted on the Charity Commission’s websites, show that approximately N403 million (£1,572,047) was paid to Love World Limited from the transmission of the church’s broadcast.
The church also paid an estimated N538.5 million (£2.1 million) as grants to mostly Nigerian partner organisations between 2008 and 2012. For instance, between 2010 and 2012 a total of N320.4 million (£1.24 million) was paid to Love World Television Ministry, LTM. Also, in 2009, N9.6 million (£37,785) was paid to the church’s healing ministry known as Healing School. In 2010, N20.5 million (£97,850) was paid to the same school. However, the amount paid to the ministry dropped drastically in 2011 to N346, 072 (£1,350). Then the payment to the ministry shot up astronomically to N25.6 million (£100,000) in 2012.
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The founder of the church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Anita, are currently in a UK court for divorce. Mrs. Oyakhilome accuses her husband of “adultery” and “unreasonable behaviour”. Pastor Chris has denied the charges.
The Charity Commission, according to the online platform, said it has opened a statutory inquiry to investigate Christ Embassy over “a number of serious concerns relating to the use of charitable funds, in particular large connected party payments and the potential misapplication of grant funding.”
The inquiry is to “determine whether there has been any mismanagement or misconduct on behalf of the charity trustees; to establish whether charitable funds have been properly applied and take appropriate remedial action if necessary.” The Charity Commission is the regulator of charities in England and Wales, snd only opened to investigate “the most serious” regulatory breaches.
According to the online medium, the investigation was initiated in July 2013, but after interviewing members of the board of trustees and perusing the records and books of the church for a year, the commission was still not convinced that the church has been prudent in managing its finances. Subsequently, the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, has withheld N711.4 million (£ 2.7 million) due to the church in donation between 2008 and 2012 until the conclusion is resolved.
On August 11, the commission effectively sidelined the church’s board of trustees and appointed an interim manager to take over the management of the church. Subsequently, the commission has appointed Rod Weston of the international audit and accounting firm, Mazars, to take over the running of the church in what the charity regulator described as a “temporary and protective measure.” Weston is expected “take over the management of the charity, including its staff, assets, interests, and relations with third parties” until investigation is concluded.
Also, Weston is expected to discharge the functions of the church’s trustees and take steps necessary to secure and take control of the assets of the church. The commission, however, added that the activities of the church would not be suspended by the appointment as the Interim Manager is expected to work with the pastors of the church to ensure its religious and charity activities continue as before.
The online medium stated that a study of the churches financial statement from 2009 to 2012 posted on the Charity Commission’s websites, show that approximately N403 million (£1,572,047) was paid to Love World Limited from the transmission of the church’s broadcast.
The church also paid an estimated N538.5 million (£2.1 million) as grants to mostly Nigerian partner organisations between 2008 and 2012. For instance, between 2010 and 2012 a total of N320.4 million (£1.24 million) was paid to Love World Television Ministry, LTM. Also, in 2009, N9.6 million (£37,785) was paid to the church’s healing ministry known as Healing School. In 2010, N20.5 million (£97,850) was paid to the same school. However, the amount paid to the ministry dropped drastically in 2011 to N346, 072 (£1,350). Then the payment to the ministry shot up astronomically to N25.6 million (£100,000) in 2012.
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