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How ‘Gay Curing’ Claims Led to Shutdown of TB Joshua’s TV Channel

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T.B. Joshua, a popular Nigerian televangelist has urged his followers to “pray for YouTube” for shutting down his account after he posted videos on his channel claiming to ‘cure’ gay members of his congregation of their sexuality.

How 'Gay Curing' Claims Led to Shutdown of TB Joshua’s TV Channel

“I got to know what happened to YouTube when I saw the viewers complaining… I want you to help me pray for YouTube… Don’t see them the other way around; see them as friends. We need to be strong,” T.B. Joshua said in a sermon posted on the ministry’s Facebook page at the weekend.

The YouTube channel of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) — run by Joshua — was deactivated last week and can no longer be viewed by its nearly two million subscribers.

OpenDemocracy, a media rights group based in the UK, told CNN that it sent a message to YouTube on April 8 asking if the conversion therapy videos did not violate its policies.

“We noticed at least seven videos. In one video, T.B. Joshua slapped a woman and her partner whom he called her ‘second’ (partner) at least 16 times,” said Lydia Namubiru, OpenDemocracy’s Africa Editor.

“He said he was casting the ‘spirit of woman’ out of her,” Namubiru said as she narrated the content of the footage flagged to YouTube and Facebook by her organization. The woman later told Joshua that she no longer felt affection for her partner because of his intervention, Namubiru said.

“In yet another, a young person… is slapped several times and his dreadlocks are shaven off before he testifies that he is no longer attracted to men,” Namubiru added.

YouTube has not issued a public statement on the matter. CNN attempted to contact YouTube for comment but was not successful.

CNN saw an email sent to OpenDemocracy on April 13 by a YouTube spokesperson who stated: “YouTube’s Community Guidelines prohibits hate speech and we remove flagged videos and comments that violate these policies. In this case we have terminated the channel… We reviewed the videos flagged to us and took appropriate action, which resulted in the termination of the channel.”

Prosperity gospel’

Emmanuel TV, the broadcast arm of the church, airs in Africa on DSTV — a satellite service owned by South African firm MultiChoice.

SCOAN plays host to dozens of international guests, and local celebrities, who visit the worship center for prayers.

In 2011, Joshua was listed by Forbes as the third-richest pastor in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of between $10 – $15 million.

In a statement posted on Facebook last week, T.B. Joshua Ministries said it would appeal the decision by YouTube to suspend its channel.

“Emmanuel TV’s mission is to share the love of God with everyone — irrespective of race or religion — and we strongly oppose all forms of hate speech! We have had a long and fruitful relationship with YouTube and believe this decision was made in a haste… we are making every effort to appeal this decision and see the channel restored,” the statement said.

The Lagos-based megachurch also called on millions of its followers to protest on social media — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube — against YouTube’s action.

Reacting to Joshua’s doctrinal methods, a spokesman for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an umbrella body of Christian groups in the country, told CNN that the association “does not interfere in how churches are run or how individuals operate their worship centers.”

The YouTube sanction poses a big blow to Joshua, whose ministrations and humanitarian outreaches in different parts of the world are showcased on the popular video platform.

Joshua rose to prominence in the late 1990s following the boom of “prosperity gospel” — a Pentecostal doctrine that hinges good health and financial blessing on the depth of faith an individual is able to demonstrate.

He, however, suffered national infamy in 2014, after a building on SCOAN’s premises collapsed, killing more than 100 people — most of whom were foreigners from South Africa, Chinese state media, CCTV reported.

 

 


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Court Upholds AVRS Legal Rights to Licence Audiovisual Works in Hotels

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the statutory right of the Audiovisual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) to licence hotels and other business establishments for the public use of audiovisual works (movies and films) transmitted within their premises via Pay-TV subscriptions.

Court Upholds AVRS Legal Rights to Licence Audiovisual Works in Hotels

This is a landmark judgment that reaffirms the rights of Nigerian copyright holders and strengthens the creative ecosystem.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who gave the judgment, dismissed the case filed by Reiz Continental Hotel Limited against AVRS, where the hotel sought a declaration that it could not be compelled to pay copyright fees for audiovisual content (movies and films) accessed through subscription-based broadcasting.

In the ruling delivered on Thursday, July 24, the court held that AVRS, by virtue of its status as assignees of copyright in several audiovisual works, and approved collective management organisation (CMO) pursuant to Section 88 of the Copyright Act 2022, had demonstrated the legal basis of its licencing activities, and was entitled to issue copyright licences to users of audiovisual works belonging to it, including the Plaintiff (Reiz Continental Hotel Limited). Abuja Formula 1 Grand Prix ticketsNigerian cuisine recipes

The court rejected the claims of Reiz Continental Hotel that it was merely a recipient of broadcasts from a pay subscription television service, and therefore not liable to any licence from AVRS.

It held that the activities of Reiz Continental Hotel, operating a hospitality business, which is profit-driven, and possessing several television sets, which transmit audiovisual content, were carried out in contravention of sections 11(b), (c) and (f) of the Copyright Act in respect of the rights held by AVRS.

The court also held that the acts of transmission of audiovisual works by Reiz Continental Hotel, since done in the context of business, were in contravention of section 36(1)(a) and (g) of the Copyright Act, unless licensed by AVRS.

According to the court, the provision of section 36(1)(g) of the Copyright Act, 2022, renders a person liable for infringement of copyright for performing or causing to be performed for the purposes of trade or business or the promotion of a trade or business, any work in which copyright subsists.

The court further held that participation in a collective licencing agreement by the Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA), of which Reiz is a member, was binding on Reiz and stopped it from denying the validity of the agreement with AVRS.

Speaking on the judgment, Mike O. Akpan, legal counsel to AVRS and principal partner, Alpha-Edge Legal, said that the judgment is not only a legal victory for AVRS and its members, but also a significant affirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to upholding copyright law and protecting creative enterprise. Nigerian cuisine recipes

He added that it establishes a strong precedent for copyright enforcement across the hospitality sector and other commercial users of protected content.

Reacting to the landmark judgment, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, chairman of AVRS, said: “This judgment is a profound moment for members of AVRS. It affirms the legitimacy of our collective licencing structure and ensures that copyright owners in the film and movie sector are rightfully protected under the law.

“AVRS has always approached licencing with openness, fairness, and a readiness to dialogue. Today’s court decision is a win for our members, the film industry, for Nigerian creators, and for the nation. It strengthens the foundation upon which the creative economy can grow and attract investment.”


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NDPC Hides MultiChoice Privacy Violation Details Despite FOI Request- FIJ

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Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has refused to release details of the data and privacy rights violation for which it fined MultiChoice Nigeria, despite receiving a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from FIJ.

NDPC Hides MultiChoice Privacy Violation Details Despite FOI Request- FIJ

FIJ otherwise Foundation for Investigative Journalism, is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that combats injustice, holds power to account and speaks for the voiceless.

In its announcement on July 6, the NDPC said it had fined MultiChoice Nigeria N766,242,500 for breaching the data and privacy rights of subscribers and even those who are not necessarily subscribers.

FIJ emailed the data protection commission an FOI request on July 9.

The commission acknowledged the receipt of the email that same day and added: “It has been forwarded to the relevant department and we would respond soon.”

Fifteen days later, FIJ got no other response from the NDPC.

In Nigeria, FOI requests have a seven-day timeframe, and it starts counting as soon as a public institution receives a request for public information.

FIJ understands that holidays, which include a Sunday and a public holiday, are to be excluded in the computation of the timeframe.

The receiving institution is mandated, within those seven days, to either provide the requested information or explain in detail why it is unable to do so based on the provisions of the FOI Act.

Established under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the NDPC’s tasks include safeguarding data privacy, enforcing regulations and promoting responsible data handling in the country.

When the Commission announced the N766.2 million fine against MultiChoice Nigeria, it said the company had violated the privacy rights of subscribers and allowed the illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians.

MultiChoice Nigeria operates through various subsidiaries, such as DStv and GOtv. The NDPC said it launched an investigation into the company in the second quarter of 2024.

“NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers,” the statement issued by NDPC read in part.

“The Commission also found that Multichoice carries out illegal cross-border transfer of personal data relating to data subjects in Nigeria. The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate.”

FIJ’s FOI request aimed to understand the extent of the data and privacy breaches committed by MultiChoice Nigeria, the remedial measures directed by the NDPC and the specific channels through which the company collected the personal data of Nigerians.

Two weeks after the request was submitted, the NDPC has refused to respond.

Section 7, sub-section 4, of the Freedom of Information Act (2011) states, “Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record applied for under this Act or part thereof within the time limit set out in this Act, the institution shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have refused to give access.”

According to the Act, where a case of wrongful denial of access is established, the defaulting officer or institution commits an offence and is liable on conviction to pay a N500,000 fine.

At the time of this report, there was no publicly documented case of the NDPC granting an FOI request to share more details after an investigation.

In 2023, FIJ detailed how the Nigerian government often violated the FOI Act. Journalists at top newspapers in the country noted that government agencies had a habit of disregarding FOI requests, despite being legally obligated to respond.


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Spotify RADAR Africa Turns the Volume Up on FOLA and Thakzin

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Spotify is turning the spotlight toward the next wave of African music innovators with its latest RADAR Africa picks: Nigerian Afrobeats talent FOLA and South African Afro House DJ and producer Thakzin. As part of Spotify’s ongoing commitment to discovering and amplifying emerging voices across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), RADAR continues to champion boundary-pushing artists shaping the sound of tomorrow.

FOLA, born Folarin Odunlami, first caught attention with his freestyles on social media, quickly making a name for himself with his blend of Afrobeat rhythms and soulful storytelling. His breakout EP What A Feeling, featuring the Bella Shmurda-assisted hit “Who Does That,” laid the foundation for a fast-rising career that now includes collaborations with BNXN, Magixx, and BhadBoi OML. “Looking at where I’m coming from, I see every opportunity as a blessing. So, it’s a blessing to have been selected, just like others before me,” says FOLA. “I want my fans to know that in the midst of all the noise, I made something they could truly connect with, feel and share with those who mean something to them. I want everyone who listens to at the very least, recognise that they’re witnessing the early days of something truly special.”

On the southern tip of the continent, Thakzin’s journey began in Ivory Park, Johannesburg, where early jazz and kwaito influences, plus a deep respect for traditional percussion, shaped his signature sound. With co-signs from Black Coffee and international tastemakers like Laurent Garnier, his genre-defying approach to Afro House, heard in his 2023 anthem “The Magnificent Dance,” is setting global dance floors alight. Following the release of Magnificent Dance, his version of Horns In The Sun by DJ Kent became a viral hit across South Africa and gained global traction, potentially surpassing the success of Magnificent Dance itself. Thakzin’s sound is rooted in African spirituality and healing, inspired by the rhythmic power of traditional drums. Shaped by a musical upbringing and guided by his father, a keyboardist, he blends rich harmonies with percussive elements to create an immersive Afro-house experience. His music evokes emotion, movement, and ancestral energy, anchored in freedom and African expression. In recognition of his role in shaping 3-step, Thakzin was the first cover artist of Spotify’s 3 STEP playlist.

Spotify RADAR isn’t just a platform, it’s a launchpad. It reflects Spotify’s commitment to empowering local artists across SSA and delivering the best listening experience in the region. From Lagos to Johannesburg, RADAR celebrates the diversity of talent on the continent, offering artists equal access to global audiences.

“At Spotify, we believe in the power of African storytelling through music. FOLA and Thakzin are both incredibly unique artists who represent the spirit of RADAR—fresh voices with global potential,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa. “By amplifying their journeys, we hope to inspire more creators across the continent to believe in their vision and reach for bigger stages.”

With FOLA and Thakzin stepping into the spotlight, one thing is clear: Africa’s future sound is already here, and Spotify is where you find it first.


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