By Michael Adesina
On August 23, 2025, I embarked on a journey to KM 132 Benin-Okene/Abuja Expressway, Auchi, Edo State. I had only one mission- to visit Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), a church founded in 2004 by Apostle Johnson Suleman.
Hitherto, my only knowledge of Apostle Suleiman was through social media. I had never met him, nor had I ever had any form of direct contact with him. Yet, as a journalist, curiosity arose in me to know more about this man whose ministry had, for years, been wrapped in a mix of controversies and commendations.
I can’t recall the first time I stumbled upon his name online, but as I journeyed to Auchi, I found myself revisiting numerous articles, reports, and heated discussions about him. Many of them revolve around scandals— chief among them, his infamous clash with Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar.
Back in 2022, Halima openly alleged that she had been in a romantic relationship with the cleric for four years. She further claimed she had conceived for him three times but mysteriously lost all the three pregnancies. At some point, she published a nude picture, insisting it belonged to the Auchi-based preacher.
Her health, too, began to deteriorate during this period, and she attributed her afflictions to alleged spiritual manipulations by Apostle Suleiman.
However, Apostle Suleiman sued her for defamation, won the case, and was awarded ten million naira in damages. The court also barred Halima from making further defamatory remarks against the pastor.
Then, in 2024, the unexpected happened. Halima Abubakar publicly confessed that she had lied against the preacher.
In her words: “I made false allegations against you. I humbly ask for your forgiveness, as I was not thinking clearly at the time.”
At a point, I was unsure of what to believe. My journalistic instinct told me it could all have been a carefully orchestrated script to boost the preacher’s popularity. I muttered to myself, “This is Nigeria—something must have exchanged hands behind closed doors, either years ago or recently.”
You may judge me for my skepticism, but I have seen enough in this profession to know that some so-called celebrities are capable of staging their own kidnaps or even releasing their own nude pictures—all in a desperate bid for relevance.
And so, like many Nigerians, I wondered: is Apostle Suleiman authentic, or is he a fraud cleverly riding the tides of controversy?
Adding fuel to this suspicion was the hotly debated issue of “miracle money,” where another preacher publicly dismissed Suleiman’s teachings and labelled him a false preacher.
But one question nagged at me: Even if all these allegations were fabricated, why was he always at the center of controversy? That thought alone pushed me to dig deeper.
However, as I arrived in Benin, little did I know that the journey had just begun. I was shocked to discover that the journey from Benin to Auchi took almost four hours. The road was deplorable, riddled with potholes. The ratio of trucks to cars was like 7:1. Trucks were everywhere on the bad road. My body ached, my head throbbed, yet one thought persisted: Why do thousands still make this trip to this church every week despite the hardships? Surely, there must be something extraordinary drawing them.
Fortunately, I arrived safely at the church in the evening. I expected the security officers at the entrance to be tired after a long day, so I decided to walk in unnoticed. But my plan failed. I was sighted and politely told to return to the gate for a check-up. To my surprise, the security officials were courteous as they professionally checked my bag before allowing me entry. Their friendliness left a positive first impression.
I personally decided to lodge at the hotel directly opposite the church so I could see every movement in and around the church till daybreak.
Before I proceed, I must commend the staff of the hotel within the OFM premises. I have been to many religious institutions, and I must be honest, the workers are usually brusque, but that was not the case this time. I was welcomed as an expected special guest. I met a guy and an older woman at the reception. I quickly asked for one of their best rooms, as I observed that it would be upstairs, where I could monitor everything.
A few minutes after I made payment, I was led to my room, which was exactly what I wanted. From the upper room, I could see everything going on in the compound, and because I had a lot of work on my table, I decided to sit up as I watched and also moved around at different times.
At about 4 am on Sunday, I noticed movements towards the church auditorium. Curiosity got the better of me, and I hurried down, clad in shorts and a white top. To my astonishment, I found about ten people—eight men and two women—gathered near the entrance. Initially, I watched from a distance, but I later went close and reached out to one of the men who decided to walk away from the entrance. As I got close, we exchanged pleasantries, and I asked him what he and others were doing close to the entrance of the church. He told me they were waiting for the security officers to open the door of the auditorium. I was more curious, I said, “You mean, you are here at 4 a.m. just to attend a Sunday service?” He responded with a smile and said, “Yes.”
The man further asked if this was my first time at the church, and I responded in the affirmative. He advised me to go and dress up quickly, warning that any delay might confine me to the back rows.
As we were conversing, more people were approaching the church. They were hanging around, and I quickly realised the man was right. I had to rush back to my hotel room to prepare. I returned to the church entrance about 5:30 a.m., and the auditorium was already filled with hundreds of people. I immediately joined a row, only to find out later that the space belonged to foreigners who came to worship. I quickly exited and joined another row where I could see everything happening in the church.
By 6:00 a.m., the service had officially begun, and people continued trooping in until the entire hall was fully packed.
One of the things that got my attention quickly was the music ministry of the church. It left me speechless. Being musically inclined, I know the difference between mediocrity and mastery. The OFM choir—comprising over 200 members—delivered with absolute precision. Every note, every chord, every drumbeat was perfect. I found myself whispering, “Wonders shall never end. Quality music of this standard, in Auchi?” They are really great. Trust me. But that was not why I went there. I was patiently waiting for the Apostle to show up.
Beyond the music, the organizational structure impressed me deeply. The service was seamless. Every minister who mounted the pulpit exuded confidence and conviction. Women were not sidelined during the bible study session; they preached with fire, led prayers, and sang with authority. I said to myself, this must be one of the reasons people rush to this place. It is a community-driven church. No one was left out. Both men and women had equal opportunities to shine.
I must also confess that the service was an antidepressant. It would take a lot of problems to be depressed in such a gathering with the sort of word and music delivery. The auditorium was filled with joy, and before I knew it, it was about 9:30 a.m., and the Apostle stepped up.
Shortly after, he began to deliver his message titled “Knowing God for yourself” after he read from the book of Matthew 16, from verses 13 to 18.
Through the passage read, he told the church that Jesus revealed himself despite asking questions about who people thought he was.
He emphasized that while books and letters are useful, only God can reveal Himself to man: “It takes God to reveal God to you,” he declared.
He noted that certain revelations of God can only be revealed by the spirits of God.
He urged his members to pursue knowledge of God because it brings peace, settlement, and communicates blessing.
He noted that every battle in life is to question one’s knowledge of God.
He added that the knowledge of God makes a man walk in the consciousness of his new identity.
During the sermon, he also addressed those who attack others in the name of defending the church.
According to the cleric, they can only bring clarity to matters, but they cannot defend the church, saying, “only God can defend his church.”
Shortly after the sermon, he prayed and began the prophet session —the moment I had been waiting for. Read more
