The United States Embassy in Nigeria has refuted allegations that it denied Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide visa on Thursday in Abuja.
ThisDay Newspaper and News Agency of Nigeria had erroneously reported that Oyedepo reacted angrily when he was told that he was not qualified for visa the the embassies assessment.
But the U.S Embassy in a tweet Friday said the story was false. The tweet stated: “#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.” the tweet said.
Similarly, Oyedepo, in a statement on Friday by Prof. Sheriff Folarin, chairman of the church’s editorial and media board, said Oyedepo was never at the US Embassy or Consulate on Thursday.
“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 visa, nor did he create a scene at the US consulate in Lagos, as purported by some mainstream and online newspapers,” the statement said.
“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 visa, which was last year, he was issued without delay.”
The church added that it contacted the US embassy and they were as surprised about the reports which they described as ‘fake 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,” the statement said.