Matilda Omonaiye/
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has denied reports that it rejected the visa application of Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel.
Media reports that the cleric was denied a visa had gone viral on social media.
The US, in a tweet today, however, described the report as fake news.
The tweet read, “FalseNews Alert! Be advised, the reports making the rounds about a visa being denied to Nigerian Bishop Oyedepo are false.
“If you have seen this manufactured item in the media, help defeat this #misinformation by communicating to everyone that it is completely false.”
US Embassy tweet:
The church too had earlier denied the report in a statement today.
The statement by the Chairman, Editorial and Media Board of Winners, Prof. Sheriff Folarin, said Oyedepo was at no time denied an entry visa into the US.
He also said the Bishop was not at the US Embassy on Thursday as claimed in the report.
The statement reads, “Mainstream and online media spaces this morning (Friday) were abuzz with the news that Bishop David Oyedepo was denied an entry visa to the United States on Thursday, January 30, 2020. We wish to put it on record and categorically submit that this piece of information is not true. At no time was the Bishop denied a visa, nor did he create a scene at the US consulate in Lagos, as purported by some mainstream and online newspapers.
“The Bishop renewed his visa, last year, without any initial denial or drama, or scene. The Bishop was not at the Embassy or Consulate yesterday or even anytime this year. Bishop has been in Canaanland all this week. The last time he applied for a visa, which was last year, he was issued without delay.”
The statement adds, “We have contacted the US Embassy and they are as surprised as we are about this FAKE NEWS, which some media houses decided to spread.
“We encourage the Nigerian media to always follow the line of due diligence before rushing to press and try to at least reach the church from time to time, whenever items try to pass through the rumour mill. Professionalism and wisdom require this so as to maintain integrity and make the media trusted in society, particularly in this age that fake news has become the news.
“Bishop Oyedepo is a good friend of the US government and has a very good relationship with US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria. He is a social entrepreneur, who has touched so many lives in Nigeria, Africa, United States and all around the world.”
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