ICYMI: RCCG suspends, transfers City of David’s pastor, Iluyomade

Idowu Iluyomade, the senior pastor of the City of David Parish in Lagos State, has been suspended by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Iluyomade, who is also the head of the Apapa Family in the church annexe, was suspended following his wife Siju's lavish 60th birthday celebration.

A source who spoke with Church Times claims that the pastor received his letter of suspension over the weekend and that, effective immediately, Pastor Charles Kpandei of the church's Resurrection Parish Region 11 took over.

The source further stated that following the formation of a panel to investigate the accusations made against him and the parish, Iluyomade was placed under three months of suspension by the church's Governing Council.

A prominent church leader who wished to remain anonymous told Church Times that Iluyomade's suspension was a reaction to the public outcry against his wife's lavish birthday celebration, which occurred soon after Herbert Wigwe, the Access Bank's former CEO, passed away.

Iluyomade, also known as PID, has been under fire since his wife Siji turned 60 years old.

Celebrated just over a week after Wigwe's death in an American helicopter crash, many thought the birthday was inappropriate. Before his transition, Wigwe had been a great blessing to the church. However, the birthday celebration revealed the church didn't seem to care about him.

Iluyomade oversees the City of David in addition to serving as the RCCG General Overseer's Special Assistant on Christian Social Responsibility through His Love Foundation. It's unclear at this time if he has also been relieved of this obligation.

Additionally, it was learned that the pastor had been suspended due to two issues pertaining to the church audit and his purported resistance to being moved out of the parish.

Because of the gravity of the situation, our source begged to remain anonymous but stated, "The church's Governing Council met on two issues: the pastor's alleged resistance to transfer and the issue of an audit of the church where questions were asked.

The council then decided to put Iluyomade on leave for three months, with the pastor sitting next to him filling in as interim leader.

"The council also decided that he should resume at the church headquarters, not the City of David, when he returns from suspension."