The Uk ‘s communications regulator, Ofcom, has placed sanctions on the LoveWorld television ministry for broadcasting “potentially harmful statements “about the Covid-19 pandemic which is currently causing turmoil in the entire world.
The unsubstantiated claims made by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of the mega-church Christ Embassy also known as LoveWorld incorporated or Believers’ LoveWorld. In early April 2020, the reporter/pastor mentioned: “We are witnessing the largest global cover-up in history”. With this, he was relating to the Coronavirus/ 5G conspiracy. This was a totally baseless claim, that was aired with thousands of views on YouTube.
Figure 1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_871InvWVyk
According to Ofcom, LoveWorld News broadcast did not provide protection to the viewers but rather potentially harmful information. On May 18th 2020. Ofcom provided a detailed 28 page document, showing the breach of the broadcasting code. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/195621/Loveworld-Sanction.pdf.
Ofcom is still considering whether or not to impose further sanctions.
The preacher equally mentioned the restriction of movement in Nigeria’s’ two major cities, Lagos and Abuja, are equally related to the 5G – COVID-19 conspiracy. According to reports on punchng.com, the spokesman of NOA (National Orientation Agency) Mr. Paul Ogenyi, described the claims made by Pastor Chris as “very Unfortunate”. In an interview with PUNCH, Mr. Paul Ogenyi stated: “it was disheartening that while pope Francis and other respected clerics worldwide are educating their members on measures to fight COVID-19, pastor Chris and some others are spreading speculations and misleading the public”.
But the fans of the billionaire prosperity pastor just keep recycling his baseless claims.
