The Anglican Diocese of Ekiti has dismissed claims that a recent burial service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ise-Ekiti, was turned into a fundraising event.
The controversy followed a Facebook post by journalist and former presidential aide Babafemi Ojudu, who alleged that mourners “rebelled in church” during the funeral of trader and politician Kehinde Ajifolawe, also known as Kenny Ise.
In his post, Ojudu claimed the officiating minister repeatedly solicited donations and publicly criticized the deceased’s family for offering “too little” as thanksgiving, sparking widespread discussion about the commercialization of church services in Nigeria.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Diocese described these claims as “inaccurate and misleading,” affirming that the service was conducted peacefully and in accordance with Anglican liturgy.
The statement, signed by Venerable Samuel Agunbiade on behalf of Bishop Rt. Rev. Andrew Ajayi, said an internal investigation found “no fundraising or exploitation took place.” It clarified that the ₦200,000 offering mentioned in Ojudu’s post was voluntarily announced by the deceased’s niece, with two others making additional spontaneous donations.
Contrary to allegations, the Diocese said the Vicar, Venerable Kehinde Adeona, neither rejected donations nor criticized the family. The statement emphasized that the tension cited in Ojudu’s post arose from an external debt dispute, not the minister’s conduct.
“The service itself was peaceful and orderly,” the Diocese said. “The only disturbance occurred at the graveside when three individuals arrived, claiming the deceased owed them ₦18.5 million, which the Vicar declined to address publicly.”
The Diocese stressed that the Anglican Church in Ekiti does not commercialize burial services and warned against spreading false narratives that could harm the church’s reputation.
“We continue to pray for the repose of the soul of the late Mrs. Kehinde Ajifolawe and comfort her family,” the statement added, reiterating the church’s commitment to pastoral integrity, faith, and communal harmony.
Ojudu’s post remains widely circulated on social media, but the Diocese maintained that it “grossly misrepresented” the events of the day.