Confusion seems to trail the reported divorce suit of Reverend Mrs. Anita Odegwa Oyakhilome against her husband, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder, Christ Embassy.
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While some members of the church told Saturday Independent that the report is false, others said that it is true but that they are praying and hoping that God will intervene.
The plea for the dissolution of the marriage, according to TheCable, an online publication, has entered its final phase.
The wife is said to be seeking divorce on the grounds of “unreasonable behaviour” and “adultery” among other allegations.
The divorce case, with Suit No FD14D01650, was reportedly filed on April 9, 2014 at Divorce Section A, Central Family Court, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London, UK, on Anita’s behalf by Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors.
Efforts to reconcile the couple, whose church is one of the biggest in Nigeria, have failed.
Only recently, Chris Oyakhilome’s neighbour, Pastor Chris Okotie, was also enmeshed in divorce issues. Like Oyakhilome, Okotie’s first wife, Tina, incidentally sued for divorce from her U.S. base.
Anita has followed suit by also suing for divorce from the UK. All these are coming about 12 years after both pastors were locked in a bitter war over Prophet T.B Joshua’s source of healing power.
The Oyakhilomes have two teenage daughters, Sharon and Charlyn.
Pastor Oyakhilome is the president of Believers’ Love World Inc, the registered name of the Christian Ministry, while his wife is the vice-president.
The pastor, according to an elder of the church, has denied the allegations and believes that his wife is being influenced by “bad friends”.
While Anita believes she has been relegated in the scheme of things in the church, her husband has reportedly accused her of trying to usurp power and authority of her seniors in the ministry.
Sources said the pastor had been making efforts to avoid divorce in the hope that his wife would have a change of mind but decree nissi was served on him in his hotel room during a recent visit to the UK. Decree nissi, in legal terms, is like a yellow card in a football match, which is a precursor to a red card, in this case, decree absolute, if no new evidence is provided to stall proceedings. The decree absolute, which will effectively end the marriage, is expected to be issued soon while the terms of the divorce will be worked out by lawyers of both parties.
Only recently, Anita wanted to go public with the details of her allegations but reached an informal agreement to sheathe her sword in the interest of the church.
Oyakhilome is regarded as one of the richest and most influential pastors in Nigeria, and co-authors the fast-selling Christian daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities, with Anita.
However, following the strain in the marriage, Anita had been complaining to friends that her husband had stopped the payment of royalties due to her from the proceeds of the book.
A wealthy Zimbabwean businessman, who is into telecoms, is one of the biggest financiers of the London branch of the church, which Anita pastors along with other branches in Europe. When the crisis got to a head, the Zimbabwean was said to have stopped funding the church.
Matters got to a head on Sunday, July 13, 2014, when some relatives of Anita locked up the London branch of the church to protest the “humiliation” being meted out to their sister who had not overseen services at the branch since November 2013. Some church members had sometime on May 10, 2014 launched facebook campaign, asking: “Where is Rev. Anita Oyakhilome?” They said Pastor Chris and Rev. Anita must unite “for the sake of the gospel, the church and their two beautiful daughters”. They quoted Malachi 2:16 in the Message: “I hate divorce, says the God of Israel.” The facebook page, which has over 3,300 “likes”, was opened with a stated mission: “This is a Call to Prayer for all believers who understand God’s heart concerning marriage and a Call to Action by Pst. Chris. #DoWhatYouPreac”.
But officials of the church quickly denied any rift between the pastor couple.
One official, Kenneth Achumasara, told the media last June: “I can tell you authoritatively that there is no issue between Pastor Chris and his wife, Anita… If you go to the UK now you will see her along with the kids. She is still with him and there is no issue between them. I have been with him for 22 years and the Pastor Chris I know cannot even utter such words as reported. He will never address such a gathering. She will soon be in Nigeria for a programme and I will definitely invite you to have access to her.”
However, here in Nigeria, a chorister in the church who does not want his name in print told Saturday Independent that all is not well with the marriage. He said: “ Yes, it is true but we are praying for God’s intervention in the matter.”
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