Veteran Nollywood actress and pastor, Eucharia Anunobi, has spoken publicly following the circulation of an audio recording that allegedly links her to a romantic and sexual relationship with Apostle Psalm Okpe, founder of the US-based Fresh Oil Ministry International Church.
In a series of videos shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, the 60-year-old actress dismissed the claims, describing them as “false, defamatory and damaging to her reputation.” She said she had instructed her lawyers to begin legal action.
Anunobi said the allegations had caused her emotional distress and posed a threat to her ministry, adding that she would not allow the matter to be ignored.
She said, “I am not going to allow that to be swept under the carpet because that malicious, vile statement has left me in emotional trauma. And it is also a testament to his threats over the years to destroy my ministry. So I have instituted legal action so that he can come and prove that he dated me for 5 years and 6 months.
“My lawyers have been instructed to start the process of writing a petition to the Nigerian police force, the U.S. Security and Immigration Department, against Psalm Okpe, for defamatory accusations, bothering on issues that I do not know, defamatory accusations that is out to tarnish my integrity, my reputation as a renowned actress and a preacher of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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The actress also warned that the situation had raised concerns about her safety and that of her family members.
“I am ready to be taken for medical examination to ascertain if I have been having sex in almost 14 years (almost fourteen years), if there is anything like that, since I have been ordained (midwifed into ministry),” she noted.
Anunobi denied any romantic involvement with Okpe, saying the claims existed only in his imagination and insisting that she was financially and socially above him.
“Psalm Okpe, you claimed that you dated me for five years, six months. You claimed you had sex with me for five years, six months. Do you know what it means to date? You couldn’t date me. You wish you could date me. How could you date me? I was giving you money to support your ministry because I am sold out to the things of the kingdom.
“So how could I date you? How could you date me? You can’t afford me. I am a higher class. The records are there. The bank records are there. Oh, you have suddenly forgotten. Oh, you wish you could date me. You wish in your dreams”, she said.
She further stated that she has remained celibate since dedicating her life to Christianity nearly 14 years ago, noting that none of the men she had been engaged to could claim sexual relations with her.
She said, “I want to state here categorically that in almost 14 years since I have been midwived into ministry, I have been celibate and have been keeping myself for the man that will be deserving of my new virginity.
“That is not to say that I have not been in courtship or not been engaged. I have been engaged all this while severally. I have been in courtship all this time. But none of these men can come out and say they have had penile penetration with me. None of them can say they have had sex with me.”
Meanwhile, the controversy began after a recorded phone conversation involving Apostle Okpe and another cleric, Pastor Martin, surfaced online. In the audio, Okpe allegedly claimed he once dated Anunobi.