Popular Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has called out Apostle Femi Lazarus over claims that some gospel musicians charge exorbitant fees to perform in churches. The controversy began after Apostle Lazarus shared an invoice allegedly from a gospel artist, detailing a $10,000 honorarium, a 50% non-refundable deposit, first-class flight tickets, and an executive suite accommodation.
Reacting to the claims, Timi Dakolo took to social media, demanding that Lazarus disclose the identity of the artist instead of making vague accusations. “Name the artiste or stop capping,” Dakolo wrote, suggesting that such claims without evidence could mislead the public.
In a follow-up post, Dakolo also criticized the hypocrisy in religious circles, sharing screenshots of an email from Apostle Lazarus' own school, which charges students $150 for enrollment. The debate has sparked discussions about the commercialization of gospel music, with some defending gospel artists' right to charge fees for their services, while others argue that ministry work should not come with high financial demands.