05/08/2026
Baba Atunbi Jesu for burial May 29
The founder of Ogo Oluwa Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church, Prophet Joseph Ijaola Ogunyooye, popularly known as “Baba Atunbi Jesu,” will be laid to rest on May 29.
Elder Ogunyooye passed away on Saturday, March 7, at the age of 87.
He will, however, be honoured with a series of memorial and funeral programmes in the United States, the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
The programme, which was released by the family on Friday, will kick off with a Service of Songs on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at GOGCS Church, 3422 Doug Drive, Dallas, Texas, at 5 pm.
A second service is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, at C&S Eritedo Eromimo Church, 26–32 Plumstead High Street, SE18 1SL, London, United Kingdom, starting at 6 pm.
In Nigeria, the memorial programmes include a Service of Songs and a Christian wake on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The lying-in-state and funeral service will follow on Friday, May 29, while the body will be interred at the late cleric’s church on Dipo Olubi Street in Surulere. Reception will follow immediately.
The programme will round off with a thanksgiving service on Sunday at Ogo Oluwa C&S.
Baba Atunbi Jesu was a trailblazer in the C&S Agbojesu Conference Worldwide, having pioneered its expansion to the United States and the diaspora. Born on August 20, 1938, in Gbongan, Osun State, he was ordained a prophet in 1958 after being mentored by the late Baba Aladura David A. Akinsola.
His ministry spanned decades, including a notable 40-day trance in 1964, which drew traditional rulers, academics, and influential figures seeking his guidance. He was also among the prophets who foretold Nigeria’s first coup in 1966.
In 1995, Baba Atunbi Jesu relocated to the United States, settling in New York City. He promptly embarked on a series of evangelical missions, with a key outcome being his host church, Glorious Morning Star C & S Church, affiliating with the C & S Agbojesu conference. This milestone marked a historic moment, as the church became the first Agbojesu C & S Church in the USA/Canada region. To this day, the Glorious Morning Star Church, led by Elder Dr Francis Okhiria, remains the headquarters of the C & S Agbojesu Subconference in the USA/Canada region.
He also established Ogo Oluwa C&S Church in Surulere, Lagos, where he lived until his death. Prophet Ogunyooye is survived by his son, Pastor Sam Ogunyooye, convener of the annual White Garment Experience concert and pastor of Glory of God C&S Church, Dallas, Texas.
Torrents of tributes have poured in for the late cleric since his passing, as C&S and non-members of the church spoke glowingly of his attributes.
Meanwhile, C&S Agbojesu Conference Worldwide, in a condolence message, described him as a spiritual father to many and a grandfather figure, and acknowledged his feat as the pioneer of the C&S Agbojesu Conference in the diaspora.
The letter partly read, “There is no amount of words that can console the children and family of our beloved Baba, other than to appreciate God for a well-fulfilled life. During his lifetime, Baba Atunbi Jesu was a great man of God, an exceptional Prophet of the Most High, an evangelist, a missionary of repute, a prayer warrior, and a good dancer.
“We believe that the legacy he left behind at home, in society, in the family, in the Church of God, in the Agbojesu Conference, and in Christendom as a whole will never be forgotten. The good Lord will grant everyone he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss in Jesus’ Mighty Name. We loved and still love him, but God loves him most.”
The conference also prayed that his gentle soul rest in peace.
