– The UK Sun has uncovered how two Nigerian pastors – Matthew Ashimolowo and Alex Omokudu – allegedly maintain lavish lifestyles with monies gotten from their congregants
– Omokhudu reportedly owns a lavish £2 million nine-bedroom mansion in Essex, and his church allegedly rakes in more than £8 million in revenue a year
– Ashimolowo allegedly lives rent-free in a £1.1 million nine-bedroom home, and was also allegedly found to have used church funds to pay for a £120,000 birthday party for himself
An investigative report by the UK Sun has uncovered how Nigerian pastors Matthew Ashimolowo and Alex Omokudu allegedly rake in millions from their worshipers in some of the poorest parts of Britain.
According to the report, both men allegedly reside in 7-figure mansions while their congregants are told to hand over their hard earned monies.
At a service held by Omokudu, worshipers were reportedly told that
“God wants you to give all your money to him”.
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Pastor Alex Omokudu ministering during a church service (Photo credit: The Deliverance Center)
They were then allegedly given direct debit forms, after being warned against disobeying God.
Both preachers reportedly hold services claiming to provide healing for even life-threatening illnesses.
The publication further reported that while both men claim to share their wealth with those in need, this is actually not the case.
Omokudu reportedly launched his Victorious Pentecostal Assembly (VPA) three years after moving to the UK from Nigeria .
His church allegedly rakes in £1million a year in donations from his members, while the 53-year-old clergyman reportedly owns a lavish £2million nine-bedroom mansion in leafy Hornchurch, Essex.
Omokudu’s lavish 2 million pound home (Photo credit: Nick Obank for the UK Sun)
He is also said to own a second £600,000 property a short distance away.
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On his part, 65-year-old Matthew Ashimolowo, started Kingsway International Christian Centre in 1992.
Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo (Photo credit: Nigerian Monitor)
After starting out in a rented hall,
today, the church reportedly rakes in more than £8m in revenue a year, out of which about £6.3m comes from tithing. It also has £16.4m in assets.
Ashimolowo who also claims to pass on his wealth, reportedly lives rent-free in a £1.1m nine-bedroom home in Romford, Essex, owned by the church.
Ashimolowo’s lavish £1.1m nine-bedroom home (Photo credit: UK Sun)
The cleric’s wife, Yemisi, also allegedly earns more than £60,000-a-year from her role as senior pastor of the church.
They both also allegedly own a second £600,000 home in Grays, Essex, where their son currently resides.
Ashimolowo had previously been found to have allegedly used church funds to pay for a £120,000 birthday party for himself at a London hotel.
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He was also allegedly found to have purchased a new Mercedes and a £13,000 Florida timeshare.
Before a 2005 probe found that he had allegedly flouted charity rules by being a trustee and paying himself a salary, he had been allegedly paid a £50,000 yearly salary by the church.
At a service, Ashimolowo was reportedly heard telling his congregation, “If you do not pay the tithe, it is like you do not really trust God”.
He referred to the money as
“insurance against Satan” .
In a related development, we previously reported that many Nigerian pastors have invested heavily in the church business and are reaping bountifully from gullible Nigerians who idolize them.
Churches have been rechristened to soothe the needs of the founders and administrators who dress stylishly and believe in the acquisition of material wealth.
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