Helen Oritsejafor, the wife of the former President, of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and founder, of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has threatened a lawsuit against two national newspapers for libel.
The 25-year-old marriage was earlier reported crashed over allegations of infidelity among others by some media platforms. Sources close to Pastor Mrs Oritsejafor said the allegations brought against her were untrue, noting that proof should be provided.
The Pastor on her verified social media handles also wrote to debunk the divorce rumour.
She said: “My attention has been drawn to the fake and malicious news making rounds on blogs, social media platforms and the newspapers against my character and that of my family. It is totally unbelievable, reprehensible and unthinkable, and it is important that I make the facts clear.
“I am a wife, a mother and a woman of God, and I uphold the tenets of my Christian faith and marriage. My family and home is the most important part of my life.
“I, therefore, appeal to everyone to put our interest and that of our lovely kids above the need to profit from this baseless endeavour. My husband and I are not divorced unless people get divorced on social media and I have never been unfaithful to my husband, whom I love very dearly.”
Adding: “These are works of the devil and his agents to dent my character and good works. Over the years, I have committed my time and resources towards reaching out to the needy, providing support to widows and giving scholarships to orphans. I have also taught and mentored a lot of young women on the principles of building and living happily with their spouses through my various platforms both on and offline. I cannot go against my own beliefs.
“Don’t forget that life is a seed. To carry baseless news not supported with facts is not only malicious but punishable under the law of the land.
“I plead with the general public to give my family the privacy it needs and disregard cheap attempts to dent my image. In retrospect to the fake news, I have briefed my lawyers and all necessary legal actions are being taken”, she stated.
However, Oritsejafor’s counsel, Okey Wali & CO, stated that the publications in the two newspapers and their contents are false, disparaging, unfounded, without any justification whatsoever, and has caused our client public ridicule and embarrassment.
The lawyer in a letter addressed to editors of both newspapers titled, ‘Re: Libelous Publication Against Dr Helen Oritsejafor: Demand for Retraction and Apology’, noted that the publication was designed to ridicule her with her family in the estimation of right thinking members of the society particularly, members of her church and associates who may henceforth see her as not being worthy of being entrusted with responsibilities.
“She demands immediate retraction of the offensive and highly damaging libellous publication in both newspaper and on all other online platforms within five days of receipt of the letter, with the publication of an unreserved apology in the newspaper and two other national dailies within 14 days of receipt of this letter.
In the letter that she wrote through her lawyer, she threatened legal redress as well as damages against them.
The lawyer said: “We have been briefed and our services retained by Dr Helen Oritsejafor hereinafter referred to as “Our Client” and on whose instruction we write you this letter. Our attention has been drawn to your publication on December 11, 2022 edition, where defamatory publications were made against our client.
“Social media is currently experiencing shock over the recent news about the former CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. According to the reports, the man who is currently the founder and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church has decided to call it quits with his wife of 25 years, Helen. But separation is one thing; the motivation for separation is something else entirely.
The lawyer decried that the publication had a picture of his client and her husband published with it.
“It is our client’s instruction that the above publication and its contents are false, disparaging, unfounded, without any justification whatsoever, and has caused public ridicule and embarrassment.
“Furthermore, it is our client’s instruction that as a result of your spurious and malicious publication, you have conveyed a false and misleading impression that our client is a person of low moral standing who has no regard for the family ethos and is unable to manage the affairs of her home.”
The lawyer warned that failure of the newspapers to comply with the demands and within the stipulated time frame, legal actions would be instituted against them and damages filed.
GUARDIAN
