Feel The Power Of The Holy Ghost!

Watch below as Nigerian Pastor Chris Oyakhilome slays hundreds with the invisible power of the Holy Ghost. Oyakhilome has been denounced by African HIV/AIDS groups for claiming that he can faith-heal away all diseases.

Christ Embassy's website claims that Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the proprietor of this church, can faith-heal HIV. ETV's 3rd Degree has been outspoken against AIDS quackery and denialism and so it is disappointing that the station runs Christ Embassy adverts, which are quackery and a threat to public health,' says Nathan Geffen, TAC Treasurer. Many religious organisations are playing a critical role in the fight against HIV and TB in South Africa, raising awareness, providing spiritual and emotional support to people with these conditions and thereby helping them to adhere to the medications which cure TB and suppress HIV in the blood to restore people's health. This is not the case with Christ Embassy. By claiming to heal life-threatening conditions, Christ Embassy is leading people to believe that they no longer have to adhere to treatment or seek appropriate medical care.

RELATED: Oyakhilome is affiliated with fellow Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua, a multimillionaire who recently sent a planeload of "holy water" to Sierra Leone because it will cure ebola. Four people were killed in Ghana in 2013 in a church stampede to get "AIDS-curing holy water" from Joshua. In 2011, three women died in London after pastors from Joshua's church convinced them to throw away their HIV medications.

NIGERIA: Multimillionaire Pastor Sends Planeload Of "Holy Water" To Cure Ebola

Multimillionaire faith-healer T.B. Joshua has sent a planeload of "holy water" to Sierra Leone because it will cure ebola. Via Vocative:

Sierra Leone just got a big gift from a strange man. To help the West African country fight the escalating Ebola crisis, Nigerian Christian preacher Temitope Joshua says he has sent the Sierra Leone government 4,000 bottles of his patented holy anointed water and $50,000 in cash in a private jet, which also cost $50,000 to charter. Sierra Leone will, one would assume, take every penny it can get to stem the Ebola outbreak, which has claimed more than 1,000 lives worldwide, with the majority of the victims in West African countries. Such odd largess does certainly beg the question, though: Who the hell is this guy? For starters, Joshua is a millionaire. Forbes reported that with an estimated net worth of $10 million to $15 million, Joshua is one of the richest pastors in Nigeria. He’s also one the most controversial. He’s the founder and head of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), and has been dubbed a prophet by some. Joshua has claimed for years that he has healing powers that can tackle a myriad of incurable diseases such as cancer and HIV—and that he can peek into the future.

Hemant Mehta weighs in at Friendly Atheist:

This isn’t just ineffective, it’s harmful. It’s possible that people suffering from the disease — who need to be quarantined and given whatever scientific treatment options are available — could “anoint” themselves with the water, wrongly think they’re cured, and then go out in public again, spreading the virus even further. I never thought I’d say this, but Joshua would be doing more for Ebola patients by praying for them, only because it would have no effect on them whatsoever.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG:  Four people were killed in Ghana in 2013 in a church stampede to get "AIDS-curing holy water" from T.B. Joshua. In 2011, three women died in London after pastors from Joshua's church convinced them to throw away their HIV medications.

NIGERIA: Four Men Lashed In Court After Sharia Conviction Of Homosexuality

The Associated Press reports that four men were lashed in a Nigeria courtroom today after a Sharia tribunal convicted them of homosexual acts.

The four were among dozens caught in a wave of arrests after Nigeria strengthened its criminal penalties for homosexuality with the new Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act in January. The men could face further violence in prison if human rights organizations do not come up with an additional fine of 20,000 naira ($120) each meted out Thursday by a judge in Bauchi city, Dorothy Aken’Ova, convenor of the Coalition for the Defense of Sexual Rights Network, told The Associated Press. The four were sentenced to 15 strokes plus a year’s imprisonment if they cannot pay their fines. Aken’Ova said the men, aged between 20 and 22, should not have been convicted because their confessions were forced by law agents who beat them. She said they had to lie on the floor of the court to be whipped on their backsides.

The Sharia court system runs parallel to civil courts in northern Nigeria, where Islamic law decrees that gays can be sentenced to death by public stoning. Such executions have not yet been reported.

Human Rights Campaign: Recall US Ambassadors To Uganda And Nigeria

Via press release:

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, called on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to recall the nation’s ambassadors to Uganda and Nigeria. HRC argued that urgent consultation is required before regular diplomacy can proceed with nations that recently enacted some of the world’s most virulently anti-LGBT laws. “The Ugandan and Nigerian governments’ decisions to treat their LGBT citizens like criminals cannot be accepted as business as usual by the U.S. government. We urge Secretary Kerry to recall both Ambassadors for consultations in Washington to make clear the seriousness of the situation in both countries,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

RELATED: On Sunday, President Obama issued a statement denouncing Uganda. That same day UN Ambassador Susan Rice tweeted that she had "spoken at length" with Uganda's president and urged him not to sign the latest anti-gay bill.

Op-Ed Of The Day

From an opinion column in Nigeria's PM News:

If US or any other pro-gay country sends us an openly gay ambassador what is the Nigerian government going to do? If your brother or sister is a homosexual, will you hand him or her to the law? Your kids praise their teacher to the high heavens; you find him or her an epitome of all you want your child’s teacher to be, then one day…you learn he or she is gay. What happens? And your sister-in-law walks out of a marriage hitherto seen as a match made in heaven because her partner wants it either one way or both ways (hope you know what I mean), what will you do? [snip] Seriously, if the Nigerian government repeals this law, let it not be to humour the hypocritical West who do good business with China in spite of her political record. They cannot stand up to that Asian dragon so they accommodate her because they need her. Rather, let it be because the repeal reflects the wishes of the people; protects democracy and minorities who should have a place on God’s green earth.

The author adds that he opposes homosexuality on the basis of his religion and believes that people can "quit" being gay. Nigeria is facing international demands that the law, which only went into effect last month, be repealed.

NIGERIA: Mob Attacks 14 Gay Men

A mob armed with clubs invaded the homes of fourteen "suspected homosexuals" in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, and dragged them into the streets where they were beaten. The walls of the victims' homes were painted with the phrase, "Homosexuals, pack and leave."

Four of the victims were marched to a police station, where they allegedly were kicked and punched by police officers who yelled slurs at them, said Ifeanyi Orazulike of the International Center on Advocacy for the Right to Health. Police threatened that the men would be incarcerated for 14 years, he said, the maximum prison sentence under Nigeria’s new Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, dubbed the "Jail the Gays" law. Activists have warned the law could trigger attacks such as the one perpetrated in the early hours of Thursday morning in Abuja, the capital of Africa’s most populous nation. Mob justice is common in Nigeria and civil rights organisations have been warning for years of an increase in community violence and the government’s failure to curb acts in which people have been beaten to death for perceived crimes such as theft.

The US embassy in Abuja issued a statement on Friday: "Since the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act was signed, we have expressed concern as a friend of Nigeria that it might be used by some to justify violence against Nigerians based on their sexual orientation. Recent attacks in Abuja deepen our concern on this front."

RELATED: Last month Nigeria super-criminalized homosexuality, making it a crime to advocate for LGBT rights, hold meetings, or be in a same-sex relationship. Homosexual acts have long been a crime in Nigeria, but now even straight people who fail to turn in their gay friends and family members face up to 14 years in prison. In the Muslim-dominated north of Nigeria, sharia courts can issue death sentences for homosexuality, but thus far there is no evidence of any executions. Shortly after the latest bill was approved, a mob forced the suspension of a sharia trial for eleven gay men after they pelted the court house with stones and demanded immediate executions.

HRC Head Chad Griffin On Nigeria

Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin joined HuffPost Live today to talk about the situation in Nigeria and Goldie Hawn, who yesterday issued a mortified apology after posting a photo of Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan with the caption, "Met the wonderful president of Nigeria." In the clip below, Griffin blasts NOM's Brian Brown and other American Christians for exporting their hate around the world.

NIGERIA: Catholic Cardinal Promoted By Pope Francis Praises Anti-Gay Laws

"The church accepts people as they are, we condemn homosexuality, Nigeria is an independent country and we do not beg for food. We have every right to order our social life in any way we think it should go. Our social life should not be organised on the basis of what others think. On this note, I commend our National Assembly and Mr President for resisting all the pressures and enacting a law against homosexuality. Signing the bill into law by President Jonathan in spite of pressures from within and outside the country should be commended by all and sundry. The world is at crossroads and there is nothing new under the sun. `We all know that this is not the first time we have heard about the agitation for gay rights but our position, as a church, has not changed. Even when some sections of society view same sex issues as moral disorder acts, homosexuality has not stopped, it still happens in the open around the world. It doesn’t mean that it should be accepted." - Cardinal John Onaiyekan, speaking to Nigeria's PM News. Onaiyekan got his red hat from Pope Benedict in 2012.  Last July Pope Francis named him the Vatican's Apostolic Administrator (rule enforcer) for the Diocese of Ahaira in southern Nigeria. (Via Bilerico)

Catholic Archbishop: We Thank God For Nigeria's Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Nigerian Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1995. Yesterday New York City-based Sahara TV interviewed him about Nigeria's super-criminalization of homosexuality. Here's how they recap the clip below:

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, joined SaharaTV's Rudolf Okonkwo to explain his reasons for supporting Nigeria's recently enacted Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. "We thank God that this bill was passed," said Archbishop Kaigama, speaking from Nigeria. Although in support of the new law, Archbishop Kaigama also sympathized for the gay community and noted that they should not be discriminated against. "As a priest and by my Christian values it not a crime to be gay or heterosexual," said Kaigama. "I will treat [a gay person] with great understanding and love, with great compassion," he said.

At the 2:30 mark the interviewer brings up the eleven gay men that are facing stoning to death in the northern Nigerian state of Bauchi. Kaigama responds: "That would be...they have extra-judicial abilities (in Bauchi). I don't imagine that just simply because somebody is gay he or she will be arrested or maltreated. I don't think that is acceptable. I think the constitution is clear about this. The legislation is very, very clear against gay unions." He later says, "It is not a crime to simply be a gay person."

The archbishop is either deeply uniformed or is simply lying.

Christopher Doyle: Western Gays Are The Reason Other Gays Face Stoning To Death

"Anti-gay laws in countries like Uganda, Nigeria, India, and Russia are not being created in a vacuum. I would argue that they are also not in direct response to indigenous gay rights movements. These countries are enacting laws as a response to gay activists’ intolerance towards traditional views on marriage and sexuality, and their attempts to silence the speech and beliefs of those who disagree with them. These activists are largely succeeding with their goals in Western countries, and are now importing their Communist strategies into other non-Western countries to achieve global dominance. Perhaps you should question whether these laws are the result of anti-gay countries, or gay activist’s intolerance of opposing views and disrespect for the religious values of billions of people around the globe?" - "Ex-gay" lunatic Christopher Doyle, essentially saying that YOU are the reason those gay men are about to be stoned to death in Nigeria.

NIGERIA: Thousands Throw Stones Into Sharia Court Demanding The Executions Of Eleven Gay Men

You wouldn't think it possible, but it's getting even worse in Nigeria. Via the Associated Press:

Thousands of protesters threw stones into the Shariah court in a north Nigerian city Wednesday, urging the speedy convictions and executions of 11 men arrested for belonging to gay organizations. Security officials fired into the air to disperse protesters in Bauchi city so the accused men could be safely returned to the prison. Judge El-Yakubu Aliyu closed the court abruptly. "No one can be sentenced to death until confirmed without a reasonable doubt," Aliyu said in response to calls for the men's execution. The court was arraigning seven of 11 accused men on Wednesday. Only three had given testimony when the mayhem began. The defense counsel was unable to submit an application for bail, and the rest of the defendants were unable to give testimony. It was unclear when the arraignments would resume.

The state of Bauchi has parallel civil and Sharia courts. The sodomy law stipulates that the death penalty can be carried out by public stoning or lethal injections.

NIGERIA: US Ambassador Says There Will Be No Cut To HIV/AIDS Relief Money

The US ambassador to Nigeria says the United States will not be cutting aid to that nation despite this month's super-criminalization of homosexuality. The ambassador went on to express concern about how US funds might be dispersed without violating the new laws. Via the Nigerian newspaper Leadership:

Fielding questions from newsmen on whether the US would withdraw its financial aid on HIV/AIDS, the US ambassador said “absolutely not. But we have to look at it very carefully and make sure that everything we do is in compliance with the new law.” He continued “As you know, we put millions of dollars in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And again, I am not a lawyer; I read the Bill and it seems to me that it may put some restrictions on what we can do to help fight HIV/AIDS in this country. These are the issues we are looking at as we look at the bill.”  Speaking further on the law, he said “the issue of same sex marriage is very controversial all over the world, including my country where 17 states out of 50 have considered it. Some are saying it is not legal. From the issue that we see, and I am speaking as a friend of Nigeria as I read the bill because I am not a lawyer, it looks to me that it puts significant restrictions on the Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Expression and in my opinion especially in advanced democracies, once government begins to say something in these areas, freedom no longer applies. It seems to me that such is a very worrisome precedent.”

Since the passage of the most recent anti-gay bill there have been dozens of arrests and at least one lashing. According to USAID, in 2011 the United States gave $230M in aid to Nigeria with $129M of that amount targeted to HIV/AIDS relief. Figures for 2012 and 2013 don't yet appear to be on their site.

NIGERIA: Gay Man Lashed 20 Times

The BBC reports:

A Nigerian man has received 20 lashes after an Islamic court in the northern city of Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences. Under Islamic law, courts can punish homosexual acts by stoning to death. But the judge said he took into account that the Muslim man, Mubarak Ibrahim, 20, carried out the acts seven years ago, and had stopped the practice. Mr Ibrahim told the BBC he was relieved that Judge Nuhu Muhammad had been lenient on him and had not sentenced him to death. The BBC's Ishaq Khalid was in court when Mr Ibrahim was lashed with a whip, made of animal skin smeared with oil. Mr Ibrahim, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, was ordered to lie on a bench, and an official whipped his back in front of a packed courtroom, our correspondent says. Mr Ibrahim screamed in pain while being lashed, but was able to walk afterwards, he adds.

Dozens of men have been arrested since Nigeria super-criminalized homosexuality earlier this week.

NIGERIA: Dozens More Arrested

Via the Associated Press:

Activists say that dozens more people have been rounded up, arrested and questioned across Nigeria for being perceived to be gay just over a week after the president signed a law criminalizing gay organizations and meetings as well as same-sex marriage. Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, Executive Director of the Nigeria-based International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health, said Friday that over two days more than 30 people have been detained. He says 12 people have been arrested in Oyo state in the southwest, six in Imo state in the southeast, eight in central Abuja and six in Anambra state in the southeast.

(Tipped by JMG reader Akim)

HRC Demands US Action On Nigeria

The Human Rights Campaign has written to Secretary of State John Kerry, demanding a "strong and proactive American response to the humanitarian crisis" in Nigeria. From the list of suggested actions:

Directing the U.S. Embassy in Abuja to perform in-country refugee processing for LGBT Nigerians who are being targeted for arrest under the newly passed law. Recommending that President Obama evaluate removing Nigeria from the list of countries currently eligible for assistance under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The law requires the President to determine on an annual basis which countries are eligible based “on progress in meeting certain criteria, including progress toward the establishment of a market-based economy, rule of law, economic policies to reduce poverty, protection of internationally recognized worker rights, and efforts to combat corruption. ”Suspending bilateral engagements between the United States and Nigeria that are of particular importance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, such as suspending Nigeria’s participation in the Young African Leaders Initiative. Using any regulatory, administrative, or statutory means in your arsenal to combat implementation of this law.

Read the full letter.

NIGERIA: Eleven Muslim Men On Trial, Face Stoning To Death For Homosexuality

The BBC reports:

An Islamic court in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi has put on trial 11 Muslim men accused of being homosexuals in violation of their religion, a religious leader has told the BBC. A 12th person arrested - a Christian - would be tried under secular law, a BBC reporter says. Under Islamic law, a person can be sentenced to death by stoning if convicted of homosexuality. It is also illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria, according to its secular laws. Jibrin Danlami Hassan, the commissioner of Bauchi state's Sharia Commission, said the alleged homosexuals were arrested by residents of Bauchi city. They were handed to the Islamic police force, which interrogated them, he said. "They accept that they are doing that dirty game," Mr Hassan said. Ms Aken'Ova said some of those arrested had been beaten up and tortured, but Mr Hassan denied this. The BBC's Ishaq Khalid in Bauchi says the Sharia Commission confirmed to him that a Christian had been arrested with the 11 Muslims, and would be tried in a "conventional court".

There have not yet been any confirmed "death by stoning" executions in Nigeria, although several such sentences have been handed down.

NIGERIA: Islamic Enforcers Vow To Hunt Down Gays "In Every Nook And Corner"

Emboldened by Monday's passage of a bill that super-criminalized homosexuality, Sharia enforcers in Nigeria's largest northern city of Kano (population 2.8M) have vowed to hunt down gay people.

The Hisbah has in recent months cracked down on prostitution and drug addiction in the majority Muslim city and pledged to do the same against homosexuality. "Obviously, we will embark on similar raids on gays and lesbians in Kano," he added, vowing to work "hand in hand" with security agencies to enforce the national legislation. "From now on, we will go into every nook and corner of Kano state to ensure that (the prohibition of) prostitution, gay marriages, marriages of the same sex and consumption of alcohol... is fully complied with, so that we can have a decent society.

"We are given more power, we are given more support now to wage serious war against these issues." The Bauchi state Sharia Commission chief Mustapha Baba Ilela meanwhile said at least 12 people had been arrested on suspicion of breaking Sharia laws banning sodomy since the start of the year. "All the accused were apprehended by the community, which is averse to homosexuality, and handed over to us," he added. "The suspects confessed to committing the act they are accused of without threat or inducement and we have the audio and written confessions."

Dorothy Aken'ova, the executive director of the International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, added that the police in Bauchi had more than 160 names on a list and were planning arrests. Since the law was signed, she said 24 people had been arrested in three southern states -- 12 in Ibadan, Oyo; six in Owerri, Imo; and six in Awka, the capital of Anambra. Most of the people arrested had previously been detained but had been re-arrested since the new law was announced, she added.

Homosexual acts have long been illegal in Nigeria, but Monday's bill also made it a crime punishable by ten years in prison to form gay clubs, promote LGBT rights, or stage same-sex ceremonies. In the northern parts of Nigeria, where Islamic law "runs parallel" to state laws, the Sharia punishment for homosexual acts is death by stoning, although there have been no confirmed reports of such executions. It is feared that may now change.

Nigerian King: I Have A $1M Watch And Have The Same Cars As Queen Elizabeth

"I have a wrist watch that cost $1 million. I wear expensive wrist watches, shoes and chains, all made of diamond. First and foremost, I am very creative and secondly, I emulate the style of our forefathers, wearing royal beads as an old style. You know these days, if you want to become a popular and flamboyant king, you have to use diamonds, diamond chains, diamond wrist watches, diamond shoes, diamond ring and my muffler is also made of diamond or gold. And that will make you unique among other Obas and that doesn’t make you proud. I like to be the first in everything. I have the largest oil tank in West Africa today. I use the same type of automobile with the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth. We use the same Rolls Royce and Bentley. Aside that, I have a seven-door limousine Mercedes, I want to be the first in everything." - Obateru Akinruntan, billionaire Obat Oil founder and tribal king of western Nigeria. (Via the Nigeria Daily Post)

NIGERIA: Dozens Of Gay Men Arrested In First Day Of Super-Criminalization

Yesterday Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill that super-criminalized homosexuality. And the arrests have already begun. Via the Associated Press:

Human rights activists reported that dozens of gay men were being arrested in northern Nigeria in an apparent response to the law. The United States, Britain and Canada condemned the law, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying Monday that it "dangerously restricts freedom" of expression and association of all Nigerians. President Goodluck Jonathan's spokesman confirmed Monday that he had signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act on Jan. 7, providing penalties of up to 14 years in jail for a gay marriage and up to 10 years' imprisonment for membership or encouragement of gay club, societies and organizations. The law also criminalizes people and groups who support "the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies and organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria." Those convicted could be jailed for 10 years.

RELATED: HIV/AIDS groups and other NGOs are appealing to the United Nations, saying that their humanitarian work in Nigeria is now greatly imperiled.

Nigeria Super-Criminalizes Homosexuality

Homosexuality was already a crime in Nigeria, but they've upped their hatred considerably today. Reuters has the story:

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday that criminalizes same-sex relationships, the presidency said, defying pressure from Western governments to respect gay and lesbian rights. The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex "amorous relationships" and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the national assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law. Two similar bills have been proposed since 2006 but failed to make it through parliament. "Yes, Mr President had signed the bill into law, a statement will be issued on it within the week," presidency spokesman Reuben Abati told Reuters. As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular. Jonathan is expected to seek re-election in 2015 but is under pressure after several dozen lawmakers and a handful of regional governors defected to the opposition in the past two months.

From the bill: "Persons who enter into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commit an offence and are each liable on conviction to a term of 14 years in prison. Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison."

UPDATE: The U.S. State Department has issued a statement.

The United States is deeply concerned by Nigeria’s enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. Beyond even prohibiting same sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression for all Nigerians. Moreover, it is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 Constitution. People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love. We join with those in Nigeria who appeal for the protection of their fellow citizens’ fundamental freedoms and universal human rights.