Maforikan, leader of Celestial Church of Christ, dies at 85

The spiritual leader of the Celestial Church of Christ, Prophet Paul Surulere Maforikan, popularly called Baba Maforikan or Prophet Suru, died on Tuesday night around 11.00p.m. during a protracted illness at the age of 85.

He became the spiritual father of the church after Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse (who was the spiritual head at the time) died in October 2003.

Maforikan was born on September 19, 1930 in Ajase, Benin, where his father had relocated to from Badagry during the war. He was a member of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) before joining the Celestial Church Of Christ in 1948, shortly after it was founded by Prophet S.B.J. Oshoffa.

He was one of the pioneering members, who followed the founder to Nigeria after the church was established in Benin.
Maforikan was the Oyo State Evangelist for 10 years before he rose to the position of Deputy Pastor in December 2002.

He was proclaimed Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide barely 48 hours of the demise of Reverend Jesse to forestall unnecessary litigation over the vacuum created by Jesse’s death.