In its reaction, Winners’ Chapel also deflated the story, declaring that the widely acclaimed Bishop was at no time “denied an entry visa to the United States on Thursday, January 30, 2020. …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.”
A national newspaper had, Friday, broken the report about the alleged visa denial to the Man of God, and the report went viral on social media.
Sadly, The Crest was also caught in the loop. We ran the misleading story. We regret this and we sincerely apologise to the highly esteemed Bishop, and our teeming readers for the embarrassment the lapse may have caused them.
However, the American Embassy, speedily debunked the story in a tweet, saying: “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.”
Also in its rebuttal issued, Friday, by the Chairman, Editorial and Media Board of Winners’ Chapel International, Prof. Sheriff Folarin, the church said Bishop Oyedepo was neither at the US Embassy on Thursday nor was he denied entry visa, let alone create a scene at the aftermath.
The release said in part: “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.”
Continuing, Folarin, in the release, reiterated that the American Embassy had punctured the report and urged journalists to always verify their reports before going to press. He also declared: “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.”
✔ @USEmbassyAbuja
#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.
