The Nigerian social media sphere is abuzz with anticipation as the BBC gets ready to broadcast a revealing exposé on the late charismatic pastor and philanthropist, Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly known as T.B. Joshua. Just hours away from the release, discussions around the exposé have surged on platforms, with ‘TB Joshua’ and ‘BBC’ garnering over 100,000 posts at the time of this report.
The British Broadcasting Corporation had previously announced its intent to air a three-part investigative documentary outlining alleged atrocities and sexual crimes attributed to the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, who passed away on June 5, 2021.
T.B. Joshua, a controversial figure, gained global recognition for his ministry at the multimillion-dollar SCOAN in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos State. In a 45-second teaser shared by the BBC, ‘victims’ shared their harrowing experiences, describing the late cleric as a sadist and psychopath.
The exposé includes statements such as, “I thought I would take what he did to me to the grave,” and “He looked loving not knowing that behind that he was a sadist, psychopath.” The snippet also features individuals expressing shock at discovering the extent of the alleged abuse, with some claiming they were kept in “total absolute slavery.”
T.B. Joshua’s death on June 6, 2021, was officially announced by his church. While the cause of death remains unknown, some of his followers asserted that the preacher had foreseen his imminent demise in his last sermon. The ruler of his hometown, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, mentioned that the preacher had prophesied his departure during his final preaching.
Reacting to the impending exposé, opinions on social media varied. Some criticized the BBC for focusing on a deceased individual, while others saw it as a necessary warning to other religious figures engaging in fraudulent activities.