Press Conference with Alleged Victims of Pastor Adelaja Held
KYIV — Former parishioners of the religious organization Embassy of God told journalists at a press conference on January 14, 2010, at the UNIAN news agency, how they were persuaded to invest in “Club of 1000 millionaires.” They also called everyone to help as they are in a critical financial position. RISU’s Ukrainian-language web page posted this story on January 15.
According to the victims’ lawyer, Ivan Bondaruk, he conducted his own investigation in the financial structures associated with the Embassy of God Church. In view of the results, the lawyer says he calls the Security Services of Ukraine, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other state structures to examine the activity of the organization “Club of 1000 millionaires.” “It exists under the supervision of the Embassy of God Church and its organizer, ideological leader, and head Pastor Sunday Adelaja,” stated Ivan Bondaruk.
On the basis of the received documents, audio and video materials, and statements of the victims, Bondaruk states that Adelaja organized the activity of the club and conducted closed meetings where he called the participants to invest in the club by paying $100 to $1,000 monthly membership dues.
“Sunday Adelaja personally from the stage called the officials of the Security Service of Ukraine unjust, spies, and requested the club members not to disclose information obtained at the meetings. He called to urgently fill the fund of the club to reach one billion US dollars,” said the lawyer.
According to the lawyer, the pastor from the stage approved a woman’s pawning of her parents’ flat. The members of the club were also persuaded “out of fear of God” to sign an agreement for an obligatory payment of 10% of their profits and business turnout in favor of the club’s fund. “Sunday Adelaja personally promised and guaranteed that those who would invest 100 thousand dollars or more in the fund would be paid additionally 20% and their bank credits would be paid,” continued Bondaruk.
The club set up its own security service and the church leadership called to seek for connections with power structures of Ukraine.
It was made public at the press conference that Sunday Adelaja and his wife Bose required that parishioners of other churches be taught financial prosperity as, according to them, those who work only for a salary are under God’s curse.
“In its reports the club announced the purchase of 68 thousand hectares of land in large plots in Ternopil, Luhansk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernihiv, and Kyiv Regions and 5 thousand hectares of land in small plots. The goals of the club are to acquire 40% of the territory of Ukraine,” said Bondaruk.
