By Adetunji Cordelia, Washington DC
This is certainly not a good time for the elders of Celestial Church of Christ, Metro Parish in Washington DC, USA as a certified voice note which leaked over the weekend indicated that the elders have been involved in an illegal withdrawal of a whooping $121,000 from the church account sometimes ago.
The leaked audio was recorded during a January 8, 2025 telephone conversation between a self-acclaimed Patron of the Parish, Elder Pius Adebowale and some elders of Celestial Church of Christ in the United States and Nigeria. It was however sent to our correspondent in Washington DC by an aggrieved male elder of the Metro Parish over the weekend as a result of the refusal of the cabals loyal to the sacked shepherd, AVS Michael Odubanjo to hand over to the newly elected Parochial Committee.
According to the leaked voice note, Elder Pius Adebowale who also has his names and particulars on the Deed of Metro Parish building with the IRS openly confessed that he and some unnamed persons actually and secretly withdrew the entire $121,000 belonging to the Parish from the church bank accounts.
This they did without any genuine reason and without the consent of the church members especially those handling the financial records of the Parish.
Although, Elder Pius Adebowale sharply said in the leaked voice note that the money was removed for safety and also that it was intact, financial experts within the Parish who spoke with our correspondent who is also a worshipper in the Parish stated that it was illegal to say that they removed the entire money from the church account for safety.
“Which safety? Was there a threat or red flag on the said funds. Did they remove the $121,000 from the accounts to fund a church project(s). Were they suspecting any fraudulent activity on the accounts that made them initiate the illegal withdrawal. Did they do it with the conscent of the people that are handling the financial records of the church. If their answer is No, then we can boldly say that they withdrew the funds to embezzle them” the financial experts said to our journalist during the church service yesterday.
According to findings, the said $121,000 had been shared by some greedy elders in the church under the direct supervision of the embattled shepherd, AVS Michael Odubanjo, and the claim by Elder Pius Adebowale that the money was intact is very incorrect, this newspaper gathered.
“We understand that they have started donating the funds which they squandered but before they return it to the church account just as they plan to handover to the new Parochial Committee on April 27, 2025, they must first of all tell the congregation why they withdrew the money and what they had done with” a member of the newly elected Parochial Committee who preferred not to be mentioned said yesterday.
Another Parishioner raised a concern while talking to our reporter after the church service yesterday that Elder Pius Adebowale should quickly address the church and the newly elected Parochial Committee on why his name is still on the Deed of CCC Metro Arch Diocese, Washington DC till today.
The elder confirmed to our reporter that the Pastor of the Church, Reverend EMF Oshoffa had at a time sent a letter to Elder Adebowale to remove his name from the Deed of the Parish building but he refused for a reason best known to him.
According to him, a legal action will be taken against Adebowale and the sacked shepherd, AVS Michael Odubanjo immediately as a way to resolve these financial crimes being perpetrated by the cabals.