Pastor Bolaji Idowu, the Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), has denied allegations of real estate fraud and money laundering, describing the claims as “unfounded and misleading.”
The allegations, which emerged on Tuesday, claimed that Idowu had been detained in Abuja by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department over his purported involvement in real estate fraud. A police source reportedly claimed, “Pastor Bolaji Idowu, popularly known for his ‘Next Level Prayers,’ is under investigation for alleged fraudulent real estate activities and money laundering.”
However, addressing his congregation during the daily morning prayer session, Next Level Prayers, on Wednesday, Idowu dismissed the allegations, asserting that he neither owns nor deals in properties within Nigeria. “I do not have any property in Nigeria. The only property I have in Nigeria is the one bequeathed to me. So, there is no property that I have or bought in Nigeria,” he told his congregation.
Idowu also refuted claims that billions of naira had been funneled into his bank accounts as part of the alleged scheme, maintaining that his financial records are transparent and open to scrutiny. “Someone said I received billions into my account. My accounts are public; you can check if I have ever received billions in them. It is just a lot of things going on in the press, but this is not the forum to address that,” he stated.
The pastor expressed shock at the allegations, admitting that he learned about them through the media, just like the public. “Some of these things, as you are reading them, I am also reading them,” he said.
Idowu’s denial of the allegations has shed light on the matter, and it remains to be seen how the investigation will unfold.