The Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Continental Overseer for South West Nigeria and the Middle East, Pastor Johnson Odesola, has challenged Reverend Mosy Madugba to substantiate allegations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo allocated oil wells to prominent Nigerian Christian leaders.

Odesola made the demand in an opinion article published by Impact Nigeria on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, describing the claims as serious allegations that should not be accepted without credible evidence.

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Madugba, founder and president of the Ministers’ Prayer Network, reportedly made the allegation during a sermon that later circulated on social media.

He claimed that Obasanjo allocated oil wells to RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Living Faith Church Worldwide founder, Bishop David Oyedepo; and Deeper Christian Life Ministry’s General Superintendent, Pastor William Kumuyi.

The cleric also reportedly linked the alleged oil interests to the establishment of universities, hospitals and schools by the religious leaders, as well as the acquisition of private aircraft by some of them.

Responding, Odesola called for documentary evidence, including official government records, petroleum licensing documents and company ownership information, to establish whether the alleged allocations occurred.

“A statement made from a pulpit does not automatically become established truth because the speaker is a respected minister of the gospel or holds the title of professor,” he wrote.

He questioned the source of Madugba’s information, asking whether the minister personally witnessed the alleged allocations or obtained the details from documents and credible sources.

Odesola further observed that reports about the sermon had not presented documentary proof linking Adeboye to an oil well allocation.

This does not establish that no document could ever exist.

It establishes that the allegation remains unsubstantiated in the public domain, he stated.

Explaining his intervention, the RCCG overseer said his long association with the church and its General Overseer informed his decision to respond.

He disclosed that he had been an RCCG member for more than 50 years and had worked closely with Adeboye for over four decades.

Odesola argued that the development of RCCG’s educational and other institutions should not be interpreted as proof that Adeboye benefited from an alleged government allocation.

He traced the church’s history to its founder, Reverend Josiah Akindayomi, who died in 1980, after which Adeboye became General Overseer in 1981.

He also referred to Adeboye’s academic qualifications in Mathematics, Hydrodynamics and Applied Mathematics, attributing the church’s expansion to years of evangelism, missionary activities and financial contributions from members.

On Redeemer’s University, Odesola said the institution was established by RCCG, obtained Federal Government approval in January 2005 and began academic activities in October of that year.

He maintained that the existence of the university and other church-owned institutions did not prove that Adeboye personally owned an oil well.

The cleric also challenged the suggestion that the use of private aircraft by religious leaders was sufficient evidence of personal ownership or the source of their acquisition.

According to him, a proper investigation would require details such as the identity or number of the alleged oil block, the company granted the licence, its shareholders and beneficial owners, the allocation date and the government authority that approved it.

Odesola said the responsibility for providing evidence rested primarily with the person making the allegation.

He added, however, that the church and relevant authorities should respond appropriately if credible documentation emerged.

He urged Madugba to make any supporting documents public or explain the basis of his claims.

If the information was inaccurate, he said, the minister should be willing to correct it.

I do not claim that this personal experience makes the church immune from scrutiny.

Neither am I suggesting that Pastor Adeboye or any other religious leader should be above the law, he wrote.

Odesola stressed that religious leaders should not be exempt from public scrutiny but insisted that allegations must be supported by verifiable facts.

“Until such evidence is produced, Nigerians should distinguish between an allegation and a proven fact,” he added.

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The challenge has brought renewed attention to the allegations, although the material available at the time of reporting contained no documentary evidence establishing that the named pastors received oil wells from the Obasanjo administration.