An embattled cleric, Pastor Chris Omatsola, who is at the centre of a viral intimate video scandal, has relocated his church over threats that trailed the release of the clip.
Omatsola told PUNCH Metro on Sunday that the new location of his ministry was only known to core members.
This was after one of our correspondents visited two locations of the church in the Lekki and Ajah areas of Lagos on Sunday to see the effect of the incident on members. Nobody was seen at both locations.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Omatsola, who is the Presiding Pastor of Zionwealth of Life Assembly, and his former lover, Tamaratokoni Okpe, had a clash over a sex video, which was leaked on the Internet.
The two estranged lovers, who allegedly dated for about seven months, reportedly had sexual intercourse during the fling, which was filmed by Omatsola.
Shortly after things fell apart between them, the lurid video emerged on the Internet.
Okpe had accused Omatsola of releasing the video to force her into marriage with him, while the cleric denied the claim, saying the video was leaked to blackmail him. He alleged that Okpe demanded N200m from him.
On a visit to the church locations on Admiralty Way, Lekki, and Bendid Plaza, Ado Road, Ajah, on Sunday, one of our correspondents noticed that service did not hold.
Some residents of the areas told one of our correspondents that they did not know anything about the church.
When PUNCH Metro called Omatsola’s telephone line, a man who picked the call said the pastor had become depressed by media attacks and public criticisms, adding that he was not available for comments.
Our correspondent, however, insisted on speaking to the pastor.
When Omatsola eventually agreed to speak, he said he had relocated his ministry because he feared for his life and those of his members.
While insisting that he did not leak the video, he added that his only regret was having premarital sex.
Omatsola, who noted that he had apologised to his members, said they knew the truth about the incident.
He added that the incident had affected him psychologically and had helped him to have a better sense of judgment