Matthew Ashimolowo
Encyclopedia
Matthew Ashimolowo is the Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre
(KICC) in London
.
His Winning Ways programme is aired daily on Premier Radio
(London) and Spirit FM
(Amsterdam
) and on television in Nigeria
, Ghana
, Zimbabwe
, TV Africa, the Trinity Broadcasting Network
(TBN) and Europe on The God Channel and Inspirational Network.
Forbes estimated Ashimolowo's net worth is at between $6-10 million. KICC annual accounts confirmed that he earns an annual salary of £100,000 but the majority of his wealth comes from the sale of Christian literature and documentaries from his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media.
is The King's Ministries Trust. This was investigated by the Charity Commission of England and Wales
between 2002 and 2005. A report of the inquiry was released in October 2005. The report concluded that there had been serious misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the charity. At an early stage in the investigation, it was considered that the charity's assets were at risk, and control was removed from the existing trustees and placed in the hands of an independent external company (the accountancy and management consultancy practice KPMG
), who regularised the charity's affairs.
The report found that:
He was ordered (section 34) to repay £200,000.
In a subsequent debate in the House of Lords
, Lord Swinfen questioned the Charity Commission's running of this investigation. He acknowledged the technical breach, but highlighted its openness, "This unincorporated trust has for some years been remunerating its trustees for various services and doing so quite openly. It made the mistake of not realising that it should have altered its constitution explicitly to allow that to be done." He then questioned the cost of the investigation "With some advice from the commission and the use of the charity lawyer, the trustees of this charity could have affected these changes for some £12,000—one-hundredth of the sum the commission has already spent." He added "The commission believes, understandably, that the future success of this charity is assured by the charity having new trustees".
Kingsway International Christian Centre
Kingsway International Christian Centre is based in London, England and was established in 1992 with 200 adults and 100 children. It currently has up to 12,000 people in attendance at the main church every Sunday. The Church was located for nine years on a site in Hackney, London, close to the...
(KICC) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
His Winning Ways programme is aired daily on Premier Radio
Premier Radio
Premier Radio may refer to:* Premier Christian Radio, a radio network in the United Kingdom which broadcasts Christian programming* Premiere Radio Networks, a radio network in the United States which syndicates talk and other programming to radio stations...
(London) and Spirit FM
Spirit FM
Spirit FM broadcasts to West Sussex from studios in Dukes Court, Chichester - the place it has been since its launch more than 10 years ago. It was previously only available in the South West of the County but gained complete coverage through a transmitter near Midhurst.- History :Spirit FM began...
(Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) and on television in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, TV Africa, the Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
(TBN) and Europe on The God Channel and Inspirational Network.
Personal life
Pastor Ashimolowo converted to Christianity from Islam at the age of 22 after the death of his father before enrolling with a Bible school.Forbes estimated Ashimolowo's net worth is at between $6-10 million. KICC annual accounts confirmed that he earns an annual salary of £100,000 but the majority of his wealth comes from the sale of Christian literature and documentaries from his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media.
Financial irregularities
The charity behind Kingsway International Christian CentreKingsway International Christian Centre
Kingsway International Christian Centre is based in London, England and was established in 1992 with 200 adults and 100 children. It currently has up to 12,000 people in attendance at the main church every Sunday. The Church was located for nine years on a site in Hackney, London, close to the...
is The King's Ministries Trust. This was investigated by the Charity Commission of England and Wales
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
between 2002 and 2005. A report of the inquiry was released in October 2005. The report concluded that there had been serious misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the charity. At an early stage in the investigation, it was considered that the charity's assets were at risk, and control was removed from the existing trustees and placed in the hands of an independent external company (the accountancy and management consultancy practice KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
), who regularised the charity's affairs.
The report found that:
- there was serious misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the Charity (section 21)
- he was responsible for approving payments and benefits to himself and his wife, Yemisi, totalling more than £384,000 (section 11)
- he and his family received benefits from the Charity including:
- free accommodation for himself and family (section 4)
- an £80,000 car (section 12)
- he had made personal purchases using the Charity’s Visa card, including the purchase of a timeshare apartment in Florida for £13,000 (section 18)
- over half a million pounds was paid out to Ashimolowo's private companies, which were operated from church property and had unclear business relationships with the charity (section 15)
- Ashimolowo acted as both a trustee and a paid employee of the charity (section 4)
He was ordered (section 34) to repay £200,000.
In a subsequent debate in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, Lord Swinfen questioned the Charity Commission's running of this investigation. He acknowledged the technical breach, but highlighted its openness, "This unincorporated trust has for some years been remunerating its trustees for various services and doing so quite openly. It made the mistake of not realising that it should have altered its constitution explicitly to allow that to be done." He then questioned the cost of the investigation "With some advice from the commission and the use of the charity lawyer, the trustees of this charity could have affected these changes for some £12,000—one-hundredth of the sum the commission has already spent." He added "The commission believes, understandably, that the future success of this charity is assured by the charity having new trustees".