In one of Nigeria’s most high-profile legal and media confrontations in recent years, Apostle Johnson Suleman, the flamboyant founder of Omega Fire Ministries International, has reignited a bitter feud with activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters, by filing a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit over alleged claims of fake miracles and related defamatory publications. This legal escalation marks a dramatic resurgence of controversy that began nearly a decade ago and has now resurged with fresh intensity in 2025.
What started as a media dispute has evolved into a full-blown court battle, dragging in issues of freedom of speech, religious authenticity, media verification standards, and public accountability. In this exposé, we dig deeper into the factual background, legal developments, public reactions, and broader implications of this case — all grounded in verified recent reporting.
A Timeline of a Decade-Long Dispute
2017: The Stephanie Otobo Saga — A Lawsuit That Refused to Die
Nearly eight years ago, Canadian-based Stephanie Otobo filed a high-profile lawsuit against Apostle Johnson Suleman in Ontario, Canada, seeking Canadian $5 million for alleged offenses including defamation, battery, false imprisonment, coercion, and more. †Her suit claimed an intimate relationship with the cleric and subsequent mistreatment, including psychological control and abuse.
The case sent shockwaves through Nigerian and diaspora communities and quickly became an international conversation topic about celebrity clergy accountability and media responsibility. However, the case became mired in legal maneuvering and was at one point amended, with Otobo’s name removed from the filings.
In the years that followed, the controversy oscillated between legal battles, media reports, and public opinion — but always remained unresolved in the public sphere.
2025: Renewed Litigation — A ₦1 Billion Libel Suit Against Sowore
Fast forward to December 2025 — Apostle Johnson Suleman has taken the battle back to the Nigerian courts by suing Omoyele Sowore for ₦1 billion, claiming that recent media coverage and social commentary amount to malicious defamation. The suit derives from:
1. A widely circulated interview on the KAA Truth podcast in which a guest alleged that Suleman was associated with individuals staging fake miracle resurrections;
2. SaharaReporters’ coverage of the allegation, which Suleman’s lawyers argue was published without verification and is “false and defamatory.”
Suleman’s legal team, led by Clement Onwuemunor & Co., issued a stiff 48-hour ultimatum to SaharaReporters, demanding:
A retraction of the April 2025 article claiming Salisbury provided an injection to fake a resurrection miracle,
Formal apologies published on all platforms where the story appeared, including major national newspapers such as Punch, Guardian, Vanguard and others,
And payment of the full ₦1 billion damages within the deadline.
The ultimatum underscores that Suleman and his lawyers view these allegations as unfounded fabrications, and they are prepared to follow through with legal sanctions if their demands are not met.
Sowore’s Position and Public Rebuttal
Omoyele Sowore — long a vocal critic of religious, political, and media elites — responded defiantly on social media and in public statements. While specifics of his legal filings are still emerging, Sowore has categorically refused to retract allegations and has characterized some of the church’s claims as efforts to stifle dissent. This dynamic sets up a complex confrontation between religious authority and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Suleman, for his part, has publicly attacked Sowore’s credibility, suggesting that some of the activist’s content is driven by a quest for relevance and attention rather than verified evidence.
The Miracle Allegation at the Heart of the Storm
At the center of the renewed conflict are allegations relating to staged miracles, including claims that a substance linked to Apostle Suleman was used to “fake” a resurrection during a crusade event in Abakaliki. According to the ex-associate who made the comments on the KAA Truth podcast (not Suleman himself):
A man was allegedly paid to play dead inside a rented coffin,
Ushers were paid to resist admitting the “body,”
Actors posed as grieving relatives,
And an injection — purportedly supplied by Suleman — was to be used to trigger a fake resurrection.
Suleman’s legal team vigorously denied these assertions and maintains that he has never met the individuals involved — including the pastor who allegedly conducted the staged event — and therefore could not have supplied anything resembling a “miracle injection.”
This dispute over facts versus folklore illustrates the intense polarization surrounding Nigerian charismatic ministries, where authentic spiritual experiences and media sensationalism often blur in public perception.
Context: Historical Allegations and Public Apologies
It’s important to frame the current conflict in the context of earlier controversies:
Actress **Halima Abubakar previously accused Apostle Suleman of a romantic affair and other misconduct, only later publicly apologizing and admitting her allegations were false.
Courts in Nigeria have historically ruled in favor of Suleman in similar defamation cases, including ordering damages from individuals who published defamatory social media content.
These precedents illustrate that defamation litigation involving public figures — especially religious ones — remains an active and contested area of Nigerian law.
Why This Matters — More Than a Personal Feud
Beyond personalities, this clash highlights deeper issues:
1. Press Freedom vs. Defamation Law
Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and press. But with that freedom comes legal limits — particularly in cases involving reputational harm. The Suleman–Sowore case may become a test case on how Nigerian courts balance responsible free expression with protections against malicious libel.
2. Religious Accountability in the Public Eye
The rise of mega-church pastors in Nigeria has been accompanied by growing skepticism and sensational claims — both positive and negative. When allegations intersect with legal proceedings, the public is forced to confront:
What constitutes verified evidence of spiritual claims?
When is media reporting responsible — and when is it defamatory?
This case invites Nigerians to reflect critically on how church leaders are portrayed and challenged in the digital era.
3. Digital Media’s Power and Pitfalls
Podcasts like KAA Truth and platforms like SaharaReporters have become powerful channels shaping public narratives. At the same time, unverified or sensational material can fuel reputational damage and legal retaliation. The unfolding lawsuit underscores how digital media must balance engagement with rigorous fact‐checking.
What Happens Next?
As of December 14, 2025:
SaharaReporters’ compliance with the 48-hour retraction demand deadline is about to expire.
Pressure is mounting for either settlement or imminent litigation.
Legal filings from both sides are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
The public, legal community, and press freedom advocates will be watching closely — as this case could set new precedent for defamation law and media accountability in Nigeria’s digital age.
Conclusion: A Conflict at the Crossroads of Media, Faith, and Law
The renewed Bishop Johnson Suleman vs Omoyele Sowore confrontation is about much more than personal animosity — it is a collision between media oversight, religious reputation, and the rule of law in a society negotiating truth, influence, and accountability.
Whether you view this as a pastor defending his reputation, an activist pushing the boundaries of free speech, or simply a courtroom saga with far-reaching implications, one thing is clear: this dispute has captured the imagination of public discourse in Nigeria, and potentially reshaped how controversial claims are aired and adjudicated in the public square.
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