Olalekan Ojo, lawyer of the late founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Prophet TB Joshua, has revealed why the cleric never went to court.
Speaking in an interview with Vimbai Mutinhiri on a new programme called My TBJ Moments on Emmanuel TV, the senior advocate of Nigeria revealed that Joshua had different opportunities to institute libel charges but he did not.
The interview was published on Friday, June 17.
According to the lawyer, Joshua’s response to cases of libel was always “By replying them, you’re dignifying them.”
Ojo also indicated that Joshua was not in the habit of making rejoinder. He said, “He was not in the habit of making rejoinder. He would concentrate on whatever he was doing. He remained unbothered about whatever people were saying about him.”
Asked if he tried to change the cleric’s mind on addressing such issues, he said, “I knew that was his style, and I was at no point asking him to change because I knew he would never change from anything he believed in.
“So many cases of libel, we never went to court. He will say the more people vilified him, the higher he climbs. That gave him the impetus to achieve more. So what is the essence of going to court for libel? Nothing.”
The lawyer also disclosed that Joshua was an industrious person, and it was exhibited in his teachings.
He said “He was most industrious. Extremely industrious. It is those who are very close to him that will appreciate his industry. We know he was industrious. And his industry was reflected in the quality of his teachings. In the richness, the originality, the uniqueness of his teachings. These are products of the industry. They don’t come just by chance.”
