Lagos-based pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Superintendent Evangelist Whepetoji Babaniyeh, has been arrested in connection with the mysterious disappearance of a 28-year-old man, Ogunbode Quadri Adedamola. The incident has sparked widespread concern, with police now conducting a full-scale investigation into the matter.
Quadri, a graduate of the Political Science Education Department at Lagos State University (LASU), was last seen on January 16, 2025. Before his disappearance, he was running a private business, Horlar Edu Consultancy, on the LASU campus. According to sources close to the case, his last known location was near the premises of the Celestial Church of Christ, Ileri Oluwa Parish, LASU 2, which is led by Babaniyeh.
A family source, speaking to SaharaReporters, confirmed that Quadri was on a phone call with his girlfriend moments before he vanished. “His girlfriend was speaking to him on the phone when it happened. He told her he was near the church when someone from inside called him. That was the last time anyone heard from him,” the source said. Following his disappearance, the police arrested the pastor for questioning, though he has not confessed to any wrongdoing or provided information on Quadri’s whereabouts.
In a separate development, a YouTuber known as Authentic Auntie Adunni – Triple A – made shocking allegations regarding financial transactions linked to the case. She claimed that when the police checked Quadri’s bank records, they found that ₦1.5 million had been transferred from his account to Babaniyeh’s on the day he disappeared. “When this prophet was asked, it was alleged that this prophet said that it was thanksgiving money that Quadri gave to him,” she stated. Further investigations reportedly uncovered additional money transfers from Quadri’s account to the pastor’s child.
Triple A also alleged that the police discovered grisly evidence suggesting Quadri had been murdered and buried within the church compound. “Upon further investigation, it was discovered that these people unalived (killed) Quadri, cut some parts of his body, and buried the remaining inside the church compound. The police went into action and in the process, more was discovered,” she claimed. However, the family of the missing man refuted this report, stating that there was no confirmation of his death. “We cannot confirm whether he is dead or alive. All we know is that he is missing. That is what we know, we have also not seen any corpse that is his,” a family member clarified.
As the case continues to unfold, law enforcement authorities remain tight-lipped about the details. When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, denied having any knowledge of the incident. His response has raised further concerns about the progress of the investigation and whether the police are withholding crucial information from the public.
