RCCG Pastor Diverts $8,000, Abandons Wife in South Africa, Marries New Woman in U.S. — Pastor Folu Adeboye
Pastor Folu Adeboye, the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has recounted a disturbing case involving a now-former RCCG pastor who allegedly diverted church funds, deserted his wife, and remarried abroad.
She made the revelation while speaking at a recent RCCG men’s programme. A video of her address, which has since gone viral online, was monitored by Church Times.
TJ News Nigeria reports that Pastor Folu shared the account during her ministration, citing her personal involvement in the unfortunate episode that occurred during a missionary trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
According to her, she had been invited to preach at a local RCCG parish in Cape Town. However, in the middle of her sermon, an unexpected interruption occurred when a woman entered the church and began removing chairs — signaling that their time at the venue, a rented eatery, had expired.
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Surprised that a church was operating from a leased restaurant space, Pastor Folu decided to engage the local pastor to discuss how to help the parish secure a permanent place of worship. She said the pastor, originally from Ekiti State, presented her with a proposal.
He explained that with just $8,000, the church could initiate efforts toward acquiring a property. His plan was to use the funds to purchase a fairly used car, register it with a tourism agency, and allow it to generate passive income to fund the church’s building project.
Encouraged by what seemed like a smart and self-sustaining strategy, Pastor Folu said she provided the $8,000 on the spot to kickstart the initiative.
But events took a shocking turn shortly after.
“Unknown to me, the man had a different plan,” she stated. “As soon as he collected the money, he travelled to the United States and left his wife behind in South Africa.”
She went on to reveal that the pastor not only abandoned his wife, but went ahead to marry another woman in the U.S., completely turning his back on both his family and the church he had served.
“The woman he left in South Africa is presently in a terrible state now, almost running mad,” Pastor Folu lamented to the stunned congregation.
Addressing the men in the audience, she called for introspection and accountability, posing a rhetorical question: “RCCG men, what are we going to do? Are we going to continue with such a lying spirit, a deceitful spirit to the God of the kingdom?”
Her question was met with a chorus of “No!” from the congregation.
Pastor Folu used the occasion to emphasize the urgent need for spiritual renewal and a return to Christian values rooted in honesty, sacrifice, and obedience to God’s will.
“That is why we have this landmark meeting,” she said. “We must go back to the old path where we look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Reflecting on the early days of RCCG’s Redemption Camp, she recalled the sacrifices and hardships endured by the church and its leaders to fulfill God’s vision.
“We must get to the point where we say, ‘Wherever He leads, we follow,’” she declared.
She painted a vivid picture of their experiences at the early Redemption Camp site, stating, “We were in this bush. For three years, there was no light. We went back to the days of lanterns. We were grinding with stone, whereas where we were coming from, we had grinding machines and washing machines.”
Despite the harsh conditions, she noted that they pressed on in faith, trusting in God’s provision and direction.
She concluded her message with words of hope and encouragement: “We may not know where God will take us, but we have a bright future, if we remain faithful.”
The story has triggered widespread reactions across social media, with many calling for increased accountability among church leaders and stricter monitoring of church funds.
While the identity of the pastor involved was not disclosed in the video, the account has reignited conversations about transparency, spiritual integrity, and leadership within religious institutions.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal denominations, operates parishes across more than 190 nations. As such, the actions of its ministers carry both local and international implications.
TJ News Nigeria will continue to monitor responses from the church leadership and any further developments concerning this matter.
