We’re still probing Winners –UK

Bishop David Oyedepo

The British government, through its Charity Commission, has said it is still considering the financial information the Living Faith Church International popularly known as Winners Chapel belonging to the popular pentecostal clergyman, David Oyedepo.

The CC is responsible for registering eligible organisations in England and Wales which are established for only charitable purposes, taking enforcement action when there is malpractice or misconduct and ensuring charities meet their legal requirements. It also provides information on their activities each year, making appropriate information about each registered charity widely available, providing online services and guidance to help charities run as effectively as possible.

Responding to an email enquiry the commission’s spokeswoman, Sarah Hitchings, told our correspondent that the consideration of the church’s finances by the British government did not qualify as conducting an investigation on the church.

Hitchings said, “We are not ‘investigating’ the charity. In the terms of our regulatory work, an ‘investigation’ is another word for ‘statutory inquiry’, the highest level of our investigatory work.

“We are not investigating Winners Chapel; we have an operational case open into the charity.”

According to her, following concerns raised from some quarters in the United Kingdom about Winners Chapel London (charity number 1134421), the commission has been reviewing a number of issues including conflicts of interest, concerns about the reputation management of the church and its financial management.

“It has taken some time for the review to scrutinise the information available to determine the extent of any regulatory concerns.

“We have now met with the trustees, and are satisfied that we have no regulatory concerns relating to conflicts of interest and the reputation management of the charity. We are still considering financial information supplied by the charity to reach a conclusion on the issue of financial management,” the spokeswoman stated.

She however added, “At this stage, we cannot comment on the details of the case; however, it is our usual policy to report on the outcomes of our work once we have reached a conclusion. Please note, we are not ‘investigating’ the charity.”

In a related development, the British agency in its inquiry reports made available on its website also accused the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s New Life Assembly (House of Prayer for All Nations), with charity number 1084582, of failing to submit to the commission annual accounts and reports and annual returns required for the financial years ending December 31 , 2011 and December 31 , 2012 until later this year.

The report noted, “The Charity was sent various computer generated reminders from the Commission regarding the submission of their annual accounting documents. In addition, the Commission attempted to contact the Charity by telephone on 10 April 2014. Further to this the Commission wrote to the Charity with a final warning on 10 April 2014 requesting that the missing documents be provided by 3 May 2014.

“During the Inquiry the Charity filed the missing annual accounts and reports and annual returns. The annual accounts and reports and annual return for the financial year ending 31 December 2011 were submitted on 8 August 2014, together with the annual report for the financial year ending 31 December 2012. The accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2012 were submitted on 26 August 2014.”