Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Wife Anita |
His
counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), described the allegation as “wicked and
malicious”, and an attempt to bring him (Pastor Chris) and the church
(Believers Love World aka Christ Embassy) “to public opprobrium and
ridicule.”
Pinheiro,
in a statement on Wednesday said the adultery allegation “currently
circulating in the media was nothing but a complete distortion of facts
in the pending proceedings in the United Kingdom”.
It
advised media establishments to verify the authenticity of their stories
before publication, saying unless they desist from making such further
publications, they would take appropriate legal actions against them to
protect Oyakhilome’s reputation and that of the church.
The
statement titled: “In the matter of malicious falsehood against Rev.
Chris Oyakhilome and the Christ Embassy Church” said: “The attention of
our client, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome and the church, the Christ Embassy,
has been drawn to the wave of false, malicious and fabricated stories
being published in the print and electronic media about his person, the
church and a matrimonial cause between him and his wife.
“Our
client is seriously concerned that under the guise of reporting a
divorce proceeding involving him, publishers resorted to an unjustified
and malicious attack on his reputation for reasons not unconnected with
the respective publishers’ selfish motives of prospect of materials and
financial advantage attendant to the wide circulation their distorted
and fabricated stories would enjoy.
“The
publishers decided to fabricate facts including (but not limited) to
allegation of adultery against our client, with the wicked and malicious
intention of bringing his person and the church to public opprobrium
and ridicule.
“It
is our client’s instructions to inform the public and particularly warn
the concerned media houses that the news or story circulating in the
media is nothing but a complete distortion of the facts in the pending
proceedings in the United Kingdom, to the knowledge of the publishers”.
The nation’s media has kept tab on the divorce saga since it broke out last month.
The
scandal has shattered the image of the Oyakhilomes, the celebrated
couple and co-authors of a christian daily devotional, ‘Rhapsody of
Realities’
As at
last check, the church has deleted the profile of Pastor Anita from its
website, while she has ruled out any possibility of continuing
matrimony with Pastor Chris.
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