A Nigerian church accused of linking poor discipline to witchcraft wants to open an independent school in Kent. Winners' Chapel International, which is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission, wants to open the school at its Dartford site.
The
organisation, which has its headquarters in Nigeria, is known as Living
Faith Church Worldwide and also Winners' Chapel International (WCI).
Bishop Oyedepo, its leader in Nigeria, has been shown on YouTube slapping a woman and accusing her of being a witch.
His
son David Oyedepo Junior is the pastor at WCI's European headquarters
in Dartford, where the church organisation wants to open Kingdom
Heritage Model School for children aged four to seven.
But
groups including the National Secular Society (NSS) have raised concerns
amid claims the church links child "disobedience" to witchcraft -
citing the David Oyedepo Ministries website, which states "disobedience
is as terrible as witchcraft".
Stephen Evans, from the NSS,
said the Metropolitan Police had investigated 27 cases of child abuse
related to witchcraft this year.
He said: "There's a need to be vigilant and there's a need to tackle this. You
don't do this by allowing organisations that believe in witchcraft and
are associated with witch-hunting to open in the UK."
The
school application is being considered by the government. The Charity
Commission confirmed concerns raised about Winners' Chapel International
included conflicts of interest and the charity's financial management.
In 2011, Bishop Oyedepo's fortune was estimated at $150m (£94m).
Source: BBC
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