A heated public exchange has erupted between the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, and activist-journalist Omoyele Sowore, following renewed legal action over long-standing allegations.
In a statement posted on social media on Saturday, Suleman accused Sowore of persistent defamation, alleging that the former presidential candidate routinely publishes unverified claims and then portrays himself as a victim when challenged in court. Suleman said Sowore falsely linked him to individuals he had never met and refused to retract the claims despite warnings.
The cleric maintained that his decision to pursue legal remedies was not an attempt to silence dissent but to protect his reputation, stressing that journalism must be balanced, factual and unbiased. He added that after ignoring Sowore for eight years, he would no longer tolerate what he described as unsubstantiated attacks on pastors and churches, warning that future allegations would attract legal consequences.
Suleman also rejected calls for forgiveness, arguing that forgiveness requires admission of wrongdoing and remorse, which he said were absent in the present dispute.
Responding in a lengthy Facebook post, Sowore dismissed Suleman’s claims as “bluster” and accused the cleric of attempting in the past to halt investigative reports by Sahara Reporters. He recalled an earlier lawsuit linked to allegations by Stephanie Otobo, alleging that Suleman later sought to withdraw the case on the condition that further exposés stop—an offer he said he rejected.
Sowore further alleged that Suleman avoided including other critics and podcasters in the current lawsuit because, according to him, their claims remain unretracted. He accused the cleric of staging fake miracles and financial alerts, and questioned amendments made to the lawsuit, including the removal of Otobo as a party.
The activist also raised fresh allegations involving gifts of property and vehicles to public figures, and claimed attempts were made to conceal records. He said he welcomed the legal battle, insisting it was time for religious leaders accused of wrongdoing to defend their claims in open court.
As of press time, no court date has been publicly announced, and both parties remain entrenched, with the dispute once again drawing national attention to the intersection of religion, media scrutiny and the law in Nigeria.