Veteran Nollywood actress and pastor Eucharia Anunobi has commenced legal proceedings against Apostle Psalm Okpe, founder of the US-based Fresh Oil Ministry International Church, following the circulation of an audio recording on alleged s£xual and romantic relationship between the duo.
According to a report by Premium Times, the development follows the emergence online of a recorded telephone conversation between Mr Okpe and a cleric identified as Pastor Martin. In the audio, Mr Okpe allegedly stated that he dated Anunobi.
Reacting in a series of videos posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, the 60-year-old actress described the claims as “false, defamatory and damaging to her reputation,” insisting that she would pursue legal redress.
Anunobi said she had instructed her lawyers to initiate formal petitions against the cleric, stressing that the allegations had caused her emotional distress and posed a threat to her ministry.
She said:“I am not going to allow that to be swept under the carpet because that malicious, vile statement has left me in emotional trauma. And it is also a testament to his threats over the years to destroy my ministry. So I have instituted legal action so that he can come and prove that he dated me for 5 years and 6 months.
“My lawyers have been instructed to start the process of writing a petition to the Nigerian police force, the U.S. Security and Immigration Department, against Psalm Okpe, for defamatory accusations, bothering on issues that I do not know, defamatory accusations that is out to tarnish my integrity, my reputation as a renowned actress and a preacher of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
She further warned that her safety and that of her family members were now at risk.
“I am ready to be taken for medical examination to ascertain if I have been having sex in almost 14 years (almost fourteen years), if there is anything like that, since I have been ordained (midwifed into Ministry)”, she noted.
The actress dismissed the cleric’s claims outright, insisting that there was no basis for any suggestion that they were romantically involved.
She said the idea of Mr Okpe dating her existed only in his imagination, adding that she was financially and socially above him.
“Psalm Okpe, you claimed that you dated me for five years, six months. You claimed you had sex with me for five years, six months. Do you know what it means to date? You couldn’t date me. You wish you could date me. How could you date me? I was giving you money to support your ministry because I am sold out to the things of the kingdom.
“So how could I date you? How could you date me? You can’t afford me. I am a higher class. The records are there. The bank records are there. Oh, you have suddenly forgotten. Oh, you wish you could date me. You wish in your dreams”, said the actress.
Anunobi also reiterated that she has remained celibate since dedicating her life to Christianity nearly 14 years ago, adding that none of the men she had been engaged to could claim sexual relations with her.
She noted,“I want to state here categorically that in almost 14 years since I have been midwived into ministry, I have been celibate and have been keeping myself for the man that will be deserving of my new virginity.
“That is not to say that I have not been in courtship or not been engaged. I have been engaged all this while severally. I have been in courtship all this time. But none of these men can come out and say they have had penile penetration with me. None of them can say they have had sex with me.”
(PREMIUM TIMES)
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