by Dolapo Adelana
The sex scandal against fiery pastor ans General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman has been one where accusations and counter-accusations have flown, left, right, and centre from all angles.
Sexual images have been released. Videos and press statements were also used by both parties involved in the scandal.
A state governor was blamed for the pastor’s travails, while another governor, said the allegations were a high level conspiracy against Suleman.
Here is a timeline of events so far:
March 05, 2017: A certain, Stephanie Otobo in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris by her lawyers accused Suleman of having an affair with her. Ms. Otobo also said Suleman promised to marry her, a promised he breached, hence a lawsuit demanding the sum of N500m as damages.
March 06, 2017: Reacting to the allegation, the pastor through his Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, denied having a relationship with Stephanie, accusing her of being a serial blackmailer.
March 06, 2017: Speaking on the issue shortly after her arrest, Otobo said she had been denied access to her lawyers. She said Suleman and his people were jittery because the story had gotten to the media.
March 06, 2017: Photos of Ms. Otobo and a male colleague of hers,Wisdom Godstime in court surfaced the same day.
March 06, 2017: Reacting to a statement from the Suleman that she was being manipulated by her lawyer, Festus Keyamo, Otobo said, such claim was untrue, as she had no business with the lawyer.
March 06, 2017: Ms. Otobo released screenshots of video chats she had with Apostle Suleman. In some of the screenshots, she was undressed from the waist upward.
March 06, 2017: Following her bail application, Ms. Otobo was unable to secure bail.
March 07, 2017: In a video recording, Mrs Elizabeth Suleman, wife of the pastor dismissed the scandal as false, saying no amount of screenshots will change the image of her husband in her heart.
March 07, 2017: In a video shared online, Apostle Suleman who was speaking during a church service said his accusers should have used a “more presentable lady”.
March 09, 2017: Stephanie was released form Kirikiri prison after meeting her bail conditions.
March 09, 2017: Apostle Suleman demanded a public apology and N1bn in damages from Otobo’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo.
March 10, 2017: In an interview, Ms. Otobo admonished wife of the pastor, Elizabeth Suleman to take time out to study her Bible. Quoting from Proverbs 22 verse 14, which reads, “The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD’s wrath falls into it”, she admonished Mrs Suleman to check properly to know if the scandal is not a punishment from God.
March 11, 2017: Suleman in a statement accused Otobo’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo of perfecting plans to clone his voice so as to implicate him. He also said Keyamo was also planning to kill Ms. Otobo.
March 12, 2017: Speaking with journalists, Ms. Otobo alleged that Apsotle Suleman gave her lots of money in foreign currencies. She added that the pastor once requested to have a threesome with her.
March 12, 2017: As the scandal wore on, a website launched by the Lagos State government to show tthe ownership of vehicles was said to have alleged that Apostle Suleman bought a Mercedes 450-GL for actress Daniella Okeke.
March 12, 2017: Just as the pastor was grappling with the scandal, another lady, simply identified as Queen Esther alleged that she once had a relationship with Apostle Suleman.
March 13, 2017: Exactly a week after the scandal became a hot topic, the pastor in a service at his church’s headquarters in Auchi, Edo, said the truth would be exposed in 24 hours.
March 14, 2017: As reports of the scandal became one of the most talked about topics on the internet, Apostle Suleman in a statement urged members of his church not to comment on the issue.
March 14, 2017: Not one to cower from a fight, Apostle Suleman who has once had a running battle with Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accused the governor of being the mastermind of the sexual allegations against him.
March 14, 2017: Ms. Otobo accused Suleman of attempted murder as she dragged him to the Nigeria Police Force.
March 15, 2017: Actress, Daniella Okeke, one of those said to have had an amorous affair with Suleman, dismissed the reports as false. She said those spreading lies against her should stop with the fake news.
March 15, 2017: Ekiti governor, Ayodele Fayose, who spoke on the issue, said the allegations were a high level conspiracy against the man of God by those in authority.
March 16, 2017: Stephanie Otobo, the alleged lover of the pastor, said his wife was fully aware of his extramarital affairs.
March 18, 2017: The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said it will not investigate adultery allegations against General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
The Association said it only waded into matters that had to do with Church doctrines and not the personal lives of individuals.
March 22, 2017: Speaking on the matter, a Christian Association, the Christians in Politics Initiative described Suleman’s accusers as “daughters of Jezebels”. The association also said youths should not allow themselves to be used by anyone to foment trouble in the country.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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