- Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has challenged Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s plan to open more churches, accusing the RCCG leader of turning religious spaces into business centres
- Falana argues that Adeboye’s church-building initiative is more about creating business opportunities than fulfilling religious needs, questioning the motives behind the expansion
- The critique of Adeboye’s approach to church growth highlights the ongoing debate over the commercialisation of religion in Nigeria and the transparency of megachurch leaders
Prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has sparked controversy with his recent remarks about Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
In a live interview with Sahara TV, Falana accused Adeboye of constructing "business centres" instead of genuine religious institutions.
Falana’s criticism came in response to a statement from Pastor Adeboye, where he shared plans to open more churches across Nigeria to ensure that people have a place of worship within walking distance.
According to Falana, the expansion of churches in this manner was not a religious initiative but a business venture aimed at commercialising faith.
During the interview, Falana questioned the motive behind Adeboye's ambitious church-building project, stating that it was less about fulfilling religious needs and more about creating business opportunities.
“Opening more churches so that people can have one within walking distance is not about religion, it's about building business centres,” Falana remarked, implying that the growth of churches was being used as a business strategy rather than for spiritual guidance.
He further argued that many of these churches operate more like corporate entities rather than places of worship.
Falana’s comments are particularly pointed given the large influence of Adeboye and RCCG, one of Nigeria’s largest and most influential Christian organisations.
Nigerians descend heavily on Pastor Adeboye and son over alleged N8b fraud case
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that many Nigerians expressed anger at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, especially at the general overseer who recently said the country's problems are spiritual and not political.
The son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Adeolu Adeboye, and his wife were reportedly involved in an alleged fraud case. They had allegedly received N8 billion for a road construction project but only completed 30 per cent of the project.
