Controversy surrounds alleged romance between Apostle Suleman, ex-stripper

The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, on Monday distanced himself from the arrest and detention of Stephanie Otobo by the police on March 3 over an alleged blackmail offence.

The allegation against Suleman came about one month after his interrogation by the Department of State Services over an alleged incitement in his sermon in which he said  Fulani herdsmen who came near his church should be killed.

The cleric in a statement by his Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, obtained by THE PUNCH in Abuja, said there was no amorous relationship between Otobo and himself let alone a promise to marry her.

According to Shaibu, the lady was allegedly arrested by the security operatives after she allegedly tried to blackmail Suleman, including demanding N500m from him, failing which she threatened to expose a purported amorous relationship between her and the pastor.

Our correspondent reported that a legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, had demanded N500m on behalf of Otobo and also accused Apostle Suleman of allegedly using policemen to intimidate and detain his client unlawfully, having earlier promised to marry her.

Shaibu also denied Keyamo’s claim of an amorous relationship and a promise to marry his client, wondering how such a transaction could have taken place without any iota of evidence.

He said, “Let me place it on record that, the lady in question is a self-confessed stripper in a night club in Canada, who like thousands of people that seek help from Apostle Johnson Suleman, called to pretentiously convey her intentions to embrace Christ and also need financial help to keep body and soul together as she no longer had a means of livelihood after quitting  her job as a stripper.

“Does Keyamo or his serial blackmailing client have pictures of the visit by Apostle Suleman or his representatives to her parents? In any case, how could such a relationship have existed when the Apostle and the said lady have never met physically? How could he have made a promise of a house and a lifestyle comparable to what she has in Canada when he has never been to her house or seen her physically as to have an idea of her living standards?”

According to him, Keyamo must have been misled or excited by the prospects of getting a whopping N500m.

However, Keyamo on Monday said he would “release more bullets” to justify the allegation by Otobo that she had a failed amorous relationship with Apostle Suleman.

He also promised to upload more photographs in the days ahead to validate the argument of his client.

Keyamo in an interview with THE PUNCH, said, “She will come out tomorrow (today, Tuesday), she has been granted bail by the Magistrate court. She will be calling a world press conference and we will begin to release bullets. These men of God are not what they claim to be, we have a duty to protect the public. Many of them are fake and fraudsters. You will see the video very soon, in the next few minutes.”

But contrary to allegations by Stephanie Otobo that Apostle Suleiman came for her marriage introduction, her father, Rev. Benson Otobo, has refuted the claim, saying the cleric had never been to his house.

He also revealed how his daughter disowned him for scolding her after posting nude photographs on WhatsApp and other social media, adding that her daughter was not a decent girl.

Rev. Otobo regretted why she was attempting to drag the name of the revered man of God in the mud.

He told THE PUNCH in an SMS that the cleric had never been to his house to seek the hand of his daughter in marriage.

“Apostle Johnson Suleiman NEVER at any point in time came to me seeking any of my daughter’s hand in marriage including Stephanie. I am NOT aware that they are at any time in a relationship of any kind. I am shocked when you mentioned if I was offered N500m.  Is it for me to buy a private jet? Sorry no ONE offered me a kobo for anything. Thanks,” Otobo stated.

But later in an interview with journalists, Rev. Otobo said Suleman had not been to his compound or known where lives in Warri, Delta State.

He however said he had since called Apostle Suleiman to explain to clear his name over the misconduct of Stephanie.