Apostle Sam Adegoke of Elijah Generation Church, Akure, Ondo State, has apologised for sexual relationships he had with women before his marriage and announced that he is stepping back from public ministry.
Adegoke, who recently got married, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying he deeply regretted his past conduct and had taken responsibility for his actions.
He apologised to the women involved, his wife, family, church members, colleagues and others who had trusted him as a spiritual leader.
The pastor said he had withdrawn from public ministry and social media in recent weeks to reflect, seek counsel and confront issues from his past.
He acknowledged that although the relationships occurred before his marriage, his actions were wrong and fell short of the standards expected of him as a Christian and minister.
Adegoke said he had been seeking spiritual guidance and professional counselling while examining his conduct and working towards making amends where necessary.
He also said his decision to step back was part of his effort to demonstrate genuine repentance through accountability, changed behaviour and acceptance of the consequences of his actions.
The cleric appealed to the public to pray for him, saying he needed the humility and courage to confront his past honestly, protect those affected and pursue genuine personal transformation.
Meanwhile, Adegoke and his wife have disabled comments on their respective Instagram accounts following the development.