PLEASE FORGIVE ME: Years After Accusing Apostle Suleman Of Sleeping With Her, Actress Halima Abubakar Begs
Halima Abubakar, the Nollywood actress, has publicly apologized to the clergyman, Apostle Johnson.
This follows allegations of a sexual affair she levelled against him in 2022.
In 2022, a gossip blogger accused Halima and some other high-profile actresses of engaging in sexual affairs with Apostle Suleman, the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International.
The blogger also accused Abubakar of faking her pregnancy and subsequent
childbirth in 2020.
Initially maintaining her silence, Abubakar later claimed to have engaged in a romantic relationship with the clergyman.
Abubakar said the clergyman told her that he was separated from his wife at the start of their relationship.
“I f*ck up yes. I own my mistakes. But I won’t lie anymore. N*gga 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 wrote.
She also accused Apostle Suleman of paying blogs to spread lies about her.
In April this year, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the actress to pay N10 million to Apostle Suleman for defaming him.
Abubakar has now tendered a public apology to Apostle Suleman and his wife, Dr Lizzy Suleman, admitting that her allegations were false.
The actress expressed deep regret for the damages her actions caused, as she begged for forgiveness.
The letter partly reads: “I admit that I made false allegations against you and also regret my action and the damage I caused to you, your wife, Dr Lizzy Suleman, your family and the leaders of the Omega Fire Ministry.
“With this letter, I humbly ask for forgiveness, recognising that my apology cannot undo the harm, pain and distress I caused and I ask you to find a place in your heart to forgive me as I was not thinking right then.
Halima’s apology comes days after her indefinite suspension by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) for “professional misconduct”.
The guild accused Halima of spreading false rumours about her colleagues with gossip bloggers.
In a memo shared on Friday, Halima is said to have been found “guilty of spreading false information about fellow members, associates, and patrons, including allegations of extramarital affairs with highly placed individuals”.
Reacting, the actress threatened the guild with legal action and demanded N3 billion in compensation.
In a letter from her legal representatives, the guild is accused of spreading “false narratives” that have defamed the actress’s reputation.
They demanded that the guild delete the Instagram post announcing the actress’ suspension, issue a public apology, and pay N3 billion in compens
“You peddled the false narrative about our clients deliberately to paint her in a bad light, cast aspersions on her, denigrate her, and stir up social opprobrium against our client,” the letter partly reads.
“You are well aware that our client has been battling with her health for years and despite a professional relationship, you did not have the courtesy to visit her or in any way show concern.
“Rather than show concern or respect to our client’s fundamental rights to fair hearing and privacy, you chose this delicate moment of recovery for our client to push your narrative a false narrative about our client in order to arrest her health recovery process, cause her emotional and psychological pain and damage her reputation.”
“… We are therefore constrained to demand that you should immediately take down the publication and render an unreserved public apology to our client via your Instagram page.
“Cease and desist from any further publication against our client. Pay N3 billion to out client for damaging her reputation.”
Meanwhile, Apostle Suleman is no stranger to sex scandals having been embroiled in several over the years.
In 2017, a Canadian-based Nigerian singer, Stephanie Otobo accused the clergyman of impregnating and abandoning her, in April 2017.
She later recanted her statements claiming she was paid by well-connected politicians and pastors to defame the cleric.
However, in 2022, Otobo shared intimate screenshots of an explicit video call allegedly shared between herself and Suleman.
In one of the photos shared via Twitter, a fully erect p*nis can be seen, with Otobo claiming that the male member was of Apostle Suleman.
In 2021, Chioma Ifemeludike, a Nigerian actress, also alleged that she slept with the pastor twice in exchange for monetary gifts.
According to Ifemeludike, the apostle paid her N500,000 following their initial sexual encounter.
Ifemeludike said they met again during her youth service year at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. She claimed they had sex after which he gave her money again.
