Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar has publicly apologized to Apostle Johnson Suleman, the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, for making defamatory claims against him. In a heartfelt statement shared on her Instagram account on Wednesday, Abubakar acknowledged that her previous remarks were “false and hurtful.”
The actress expressed deep regret for the pain and distress caused by her actions, pleading for forgiveness from Apostle Suleman and his family. She explained that her past decisions were driven by poor judgment, adding that her apology came after “deep reflection and conscience.”
“I am writing to you today to acknowledge the falsehoods I made against you on social media and to offer my sincere apology,” Abubakar stated in her letter. “After deep reflection and in order for my conscience to be in accord with God, I have realised the depth of the harm, pain, and distress caused by my lies.”
She admitted to making false allegations and expressed regret for the harm done to Apostle Suleman, his wife, Dr. Mrs. Lizzy Suleman, his family, and the leaders of Omega Fire Ministries. “I humbly ask for your forgiveness, recognising that my apology cannot undo the harm, pain, and distress I caused,” she wrote.
Abubakar further acknowledged the humanitarian efforts of Apostle Suleman, appealing to him to extend forgiveness.
In 2022, the actress had made claims on social media alleging a romantic relationship with Apostle Suleman, which escalated when she later claimed to have been pregnant with his child on three occasions. This led to threats of legal action from Suleman over the defamatory statements.
In April 2024, a federal high court in Abuja ruled in favor of Apostle Suleman, ordering Halima Abubakar to pay N10 million in damages for defamation. The court also restrained her from making further defamatory remarks against the cleric.
Abubakar's public apology appears to be a significant step in addressing the fallout from the scandal, as she seeks reconciliation and forgiveness.