TB Joshua Caught Up in Panama Papers But He Denies Claims Despite Evidence
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Temitope Joshua is arguably the most influential preacher in Africa. The founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) attracts huge numbers of people from across Africa and beyond, many of them seeking faith healing from ailments and exorcism from demonic possession.
On September 12, 2014, a guesthouse within his church collapsed, killing 116 people, most of them South Africans, who travelled to the Lagos headquarters of the church for pilgrimage.
The cleric has also endeared his Christian ministry to many political leaders on the African continent who throng his church, with some of them openly testifying that he correctly predicted the outcomes of the elections that brought them to power.
One of the African leaders who believed in Mr. Joshua’s prophesy was former Ghanaian president, John Atta-Mills. After his inauguration in 2009, the first visit made by Mr. Atta-Mills, a Professor of Law, was to the Synagogue, as Mr. Joshua’s church is commonly called.
Mr. Atta-Mills died in office on July 24, 2012. It remained unclear whether Pastor Joshua saw his death coming.
The pastor’s television station, Emmanuel TV, is believed to be one of the most viewed in the continent.
Apart from evangelism, Mr. Joshua is not known to be involved in any other business.
However, files obtained from the massive leaked data of a Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, has now shown that Mr. Joshua and his wife, Evelyn, own Chillon Consultancy Limited, a company incorporated on June 20, 2006 at the British Virgin Island (BVI).
Both owners own one ordinary share each, although the company, with registration number 1033675, is authorized to issue a maximum “50,000 no par value Shares of a single class.”
It remains unclear what businesses Mr. Joshua transacted with the shell company which has no physical presence in Tortola, the largest and most inhabited island at the British Virgin Island.
Chillon Consultancy Limited uses the office address of its registered agent, Mossack Fonseca (Akara Bldg., 24 De Castro Street, Wickhams Cay 1, Road Town, Tortola) as its contact information in the British Virgin Island.
Mr. Joshua is the second Nigerian mega preacher shown to set up offshore companies in tax havens.
An April 2013 investigation by Premium Times had exposed Chris Oyakhilome, founder and leader of Christ Embassy, as incorporating Gmobile Nigeria Limited, an offshore firm in 2007, at the British Virgin Island.
Although other individuals were listed as shareholders and directors, that investigation was able to determine that the pastor’s teenage daughters – Sharon and Charlyn – were the real beneficial owners of the company.
Like many mega preachers in the country, Mr Joshua is reported to live in opulence. Last September, online news website, Sahara Reporters, claimed the televangelist bought a Gulfstream G550 aircraft in April 2015.
According to Sahara Reporters, the jet, registered as “Synagogue Of Nations,” was purchased using the Bank Of Utah trustee as front.
A Gulfstream G550 is sold for as much a $45 million and could take up to $3 million dollars in yearly maintenance cost.
At first Mr. Joshua did not respond to multiple requests for comments. A person who picked his phone when he was called last week said the he was not available to take calls.
T.B. Joshua Claims Shell Company Not His Despite Evidence
Despite documents obtained by Premium Times from the massive data leak from Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca, clearly showing the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Joshua, and his wife, Evelyn, incorporated a company in the British Virgin Islands, a known tax haven, the preacher has denied he owns the company.
Our story had revealed that the influential televangelist incorporated a shell company, Chillion Consultancy Limited, on June 20, 2006.
Mr. Joshua and his wife own one ordinary share each, although the company, with registration number 1033675, is authorized to issue a maximum “50,000 no par value Shares of a single class”.
The document also revealed that Chillon Consultancy Limited has no physical address but uses the office address of its registered agent, Mossack Fonseca (Akara Bldg., 24 De Castro Street, Wickhams Cay 1, Road Town, Tortola) as its contact information in the British Virgin Island.
In a statement which was posted with a photograph of a reporter on his church’s Facebook page, the clergy, who had ignored multiple opportunities offered to him by this newspaper to respond to our findings before the story was published, said he was shocked by our report.
Mr Joshua described the story as “malicious” and a “propaganda”, while quoting a portion of the Bible that suggested he was being victimized. But he did not explain how his name and that of his wife appeared in the document.
“I was shocked to find a report written claiming that the Panama Papers revealed a shell company called Chillon Consultancy Limited in the British Virgin Islands, allegedly owned by me,” Mr. Joshua wrote.
“Whoever is involved in this malicious write-up and propaganda with an obvious intent to defame my person and the ministry, remember what the Bible says in Luke 2:34 – “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many… and to be a sign that will be spoken against”.
“Do not use the Panama Papers to attack those you have been looking for an opportunity to victimise. This is to show that not everybody alleged in the media to be involved in the Panama Papers is truly involved. My own case is a good example.
“Beware of those using the Panama Papers for fraudulent purposes! This is a very big mistake the fraudsters have made. Those who read this report take time to do your findings. It is malicious,” he said.
The pastor alleged that the Premium Timeswas using the #PanamaPaper leak to victimize innocent people.
“Do not use the Panama Papers to attack those you have been looking for an opportunity to victimise. This is to show that not everybody alleged in the media to be involved in the Panama Papers is truly involved. My own case is a good example.
“Beware of those using the Panama Papers for fraudulent purposes! This is a very big mistake the fraudsters have made. Those who read this report – take time to do your findings. It is malicious.”
“I am not a businessman and have no business whatsoever. What God has given me is more than enough. I have nothing to do with the Panama Papers. As for me and my family, we shall remain in the vineyard of God,” he said.
The statement, further accused our reporter of leading a “gang” which has been threatening his ministry since the September 12, 2015 collapse of Mr. Joshua’s church building that killed 116 people.
Our reporter had revealed how the pastor bribed journalists to present him in a positive light after the incident.
It was later revealed that the church did not obtain the requisite approval before the building was erected. The board of trustees of the church alongside the contractors responsible for the building are being prosecuted for manslaughter.
“Do not allow your company to be used. Do not allow your company to stand against God. This is a lie! Take note – this news was written by the same journalist who alleged that I bribed him during the building incident and went to different channels – both local and international – to propagate these fabrications,” the clergy warned.
He also accused this reporter of being the leader of a gang threatening his ministry.
“Since the building incident, there have been a series of threats towards the ministry and my person by this same journalist, Nicholas Ibekwe, who represents a gang of people.
“After everything that has been done in an attempt to destroy this ministry, this is what he has resorted to. Even the picture used in the write-up is taken from the Mexico Crusade I recently held. It was a crusade I went for, nothing more.”
