The Living Faith Church, AKA Winners Chapel International, has denied reports that its Founder and General Overseer, Bishop David Oyedepo was denied visa.
Reports had emerged on Friday that the Embassy denied Oyedepo visa because the Bishop did not qualify for a visa renewal after its assessment.
It was also reported that the Bishop while querying the grounds for his refusal, created a scene at the Embassy.
Oyedepo was said to have told the embassy that he had been travelling to the states since the 1980s and had not violated any rules or committed any crime to have warranted being denied a renewal of his visa.
But a statement by the Chairman, Editorial and Media Board of Winners, Prof. Sheriff Folarin, said Bishop Oyedepo still has a valid US visa and would not have applied for another one.
Folarin further stated that the Bishop could not have created a scene at the US consulate in Lagos State because he was not there.
The statement reads in part, We wish to put it on record and categorically submit that this piece of information is not true. At no time was the Bishop denied a visa, nor did he create a scene at the US consulate in Lagos, as purported by some mainstream and online newspapers.
“The Bishop renewed his visa, last year, without any initial denial or drama, or scene. The Bishop was not at the Embassy or Consulate yesterday or even anytime this year. Bishop has been in Canaanland all this week. The last time he applied for a visa, which was last year, he was issued without delay.”
“We have contacted the US Embassy and they are as surprised as we are about this FAKE NEWS, which some media houses decided to spread.
“Bishop Oyedepo is a good friend of the US government and has a very good relationship with US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria. He is a social entrepreneur, who has touched so many lives in Nigeria, Africa, United States and all around the world.”
