Ilesa Anglican Diocese Refutes Claim on Bishop Falope’s Conversion, Demands Apology

The Anglican Diocese of Ilesa has strongly refuted claims made by Reverend Isaac Omolehin regarding the spiritual life of Bishop John Falope, the founding bishop of the diocese, describing the statement as historically false and misleading.

In a reaction issued on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Diocesan Bishop of Ilesa, Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo Asaju, expressed concern over a recent sermon in which Rev. Omolehin allegedly claimed that Bishop Falope only gave his life to Christ after retiring as Bishop of the Diocese of Ilesa.

According to Prof. Asaju, the claim is “absolutely untrue,” stressing that Bishop Falope was born again early in life and was already a committed Christian leader long before becoming a bishop. He noted that even as an archdeacon, Bishop Falope mentored many believers who gave their lives to Christ and played a prominent role in evangelical activities within the Anglican Communion.

The diocesan bishop highlighted Bishop Falope’s active involvement in the Scripture Union, describing him as an apostle of the movement and an author of books on Christian conversion and revival. He added that under Bishop Falope’s leadership, Ilesa became widely known as a centre of evangelism and the preaching of what he described as the “pure gospel.”

Prof. Asaju described the sermon as a distortion of history and an affront to the legacy of a man he said lived an impeccable life as an educationist, priest and bishop. He further stated that the comments had embarrassed the Falope family and the entire Ilesa Diocese.

He also cautioned against what he described as a growing trend among church leaders to make unfounded claims against revered figures in the Christian faith, warning that internal conflicts within the church have historically weakened Christianity in several regions of the world.

Calling for restraint, Prof. Asaju urged clerics to verify facts before making public statements, adding that an apology was deserved in this instance.

Bishop John Falope served as the foundation bishop of the Ilesa Diocese, established in 1974, and is widely remembered for his role in advancing evangelical revival within the Anglican Church in Nigeria.