Late Saturday evening, it was reported that family sources informed the Peoples Gazette that the founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) had died aged 57.
The news site did not state the cause of his supposed demise, however, the paper claimed that family sources had said that the body of the pastor was already in the morgue.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who is also a friend to the preacher, said that reports alleging the death of popular television preacher Temitope Balogun Joshua, also known as TB Joshua, are false.
Femi Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter handle to state that the reports of TB Joshua’s death are false. The former minister called the story “fake news in its most hideous form”.
His Tweet reads, “the story that is being peddled around by some fake news merchants that my dearest friend and brother, Prophet T.B. Joshua of SCOAN, is dead is FALSE! It is FAKE NEWS in its most hideous form. The Prophet is alive and well, and he shall live long and prosper. Glory hallelujah!”
This has led to confusion among Nigerians on the social media platform as many do not know which report to believe.
One user said, “Amen amen, I’ve not been myself since I saw this absurdity in the Peoples Gazette. I pray it’s fake. His enemies will die him in Jesus Name.”
Popular Human Rights activist, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, said, “Just got confirmation about the passing of Prophet TB Joshua after several calls. He died on the way to the hospital. This is beyond sad indeed. RIP sir.”
Other users have chided Fani-Kayode for not providing some proof that the preacher was indeed alive and well, with many calling for him to release a video with TB Joshua.
Users have also noted that the pastor’s Wikipedia page already shows that he is deceased. Upon follow up for confirmation, our correspondents did not see a deceased date on TB Joshua’s Wikipedia. However, the information on the page seems to have been revised to refer to the embattled minister in the past tense.
