International preacher Odulele admits sex offences
Dr Albert Odulele, the ‘charismatic’ head of a London-based evangelical church faces jail after admitting two sexual assaults. The case came to light following an exclusive report from Channel 4 News.
Dr Albert Odulele, who runs Glory House International, admitted indecently assaulting a boy aged 14 and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old man – both former members of his congregation.
He entered the guilty pleas at Bexley Magistrates’ Court in south east London and was committed for sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on a date yet to be set.
Magistrates granted him conditional bail at the brief hearing.
Odulele, who describes himself as a ‘teacher, preacher and evangelical preacher’, is a major figure in the world of evangelical Christianity.
His east London-based church says it has a congregation of 3,000.
There are also branches of Glory House International in Leeds, Birmingham, Nigeria and Brazil.
Worldwide following
And Odulele has attracted many more followers around the world through appearances at international evangelic conferences, on religious TV programmes and videos on YouTube.
His website describes him as an author, speaker and preacher, and boasts of his ‘charismatic style, prophetic delivery and prolific expression of truth’.
Channel 4 News understands the alleged assaults took place in 2003 and 2004.
The court heard how Odulele, 47, initially denied any wrongdoing after he was arrested last summer by the Metropolitan Police’s Major Child Abuse Investigation Unit.
But he later admitted to police that he had been ‘battling’ with his sexuality for years. He denied the offences were pre-planned.
Glory House International has been a registered charity for 18 years and has a turnover of £2 million a year.
Church leaders were unavailable for comment when contacted by Channel 4 News.