Apostle Johnson Suleman, the general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries International, has threatened legal action against Halima Abubakar, the actress.
A few weeks ago, Halima had called out Suleman on social media while claiming the pair once dated.
The film star said she agreed to date the cleric because he told her then that he was no longer with his wife.
Halima also accused the clergyman of paying blogs monthly to promote lies.
“I f*ck up yes. I own my mistakes. But I won’t lie anymore. Nigga said he was separated. I didn’t meet a married man. I met a bizman with three kids. Long story, stay away from liars,” she had written.
But in a now-viral letter, Suleman asked the actress to “cease and desist” from publishing “defamatory statements” against him.
The letter titled, ‘Defamatory statements concerning Apostle Johnson Suleman; notice to cease and desist’, was dated September 28 and signed by Rodney Adzuanaga, his lawyer.
“Dear Ms Halima Abubakar, Our client is an Apostle and Senior Pastor of the Omega Fire and Miracle Ministry International, with branches in all states of Nigeria and several countries of the world. By virtue of his Apostolic caling and reach he has several millions of followers who look up to him and his ministry for spiritual guidance and direction,” it reads.
“It is our brief that you caused to be published malicious, defamatory and demeaning statements about our client in several micro-blog sites, chiefly Gistlover, and your Instagram handle Halima Abubakar, which have wider reach within Nigeria and the world.
“These statements, made by you, knowing fully well that they are false, untrue, malicious, defamatory, baseless, and a tool of blackmail of our client, impugn the reputation of our client and reduce him in the eyes of responsible and right thinking members of the society.”
In the letter, Suleman asked the actress to retract her earlier comments in a statement to be published via social media and five national dailies.
The cleric also asked Halima to sign an undertaking indicating her willingness to “stop spreading defamatory statements against him”.
He added that legal action will be instituted against the actress if she fails to comply with his demands within three days.
“Please be informed that in the event you fail to comply with this cease and desist notice and accede to the aforestated demands within the aforementioned 3 (three) days, we have further legal instructions to issue the Writ of Sammons against you and seek sundry reliefs for defamation, including monetary dues,” it added.
Halima is yet to react as of the time of this report.
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