Twenty-four hours after defending his unconventional tongue-to-tongue anointing ritual, Bishop Alfred ‘Lahojah’ Ogunnusi of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church has backtracked and issued an apology. The controversy erupted after a viral video showed Bishop Ogunnusi performing the ritual with a younger bishop, sparking widespread criticism and debate online.
In the video, Bishop Ogunnusi is seen conducting the anointing ceremony with a church member clad in a garment bearing the official emblem of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church. Holding a microphone, he pours water over the younger bishop’s head three times, hands him a bottle to drink from, and then engages in a brief tongue-to-tongue contact.
Despite initially defending his actions by claiming they were rooted in biblical practice, Bishop Ogunnusi later withdrew his statement and apologized to the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church and the Christian community.
In his apology, he stated, “My name is Eminence Baba Aladura Alfred Oluwasegun Okikiola Ogunnusi, also known as Lahojah. Please don’t be angry. Everyone who believes what I did was wrong, please forgive me. I seek forgiveness. What happened in the viral video was what I did, and I led the session. I greet all pastors and Christians and ask them to forgive and not be angry.”
In response, the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church issued a statement distancing themselves from Bishop Ogunnusi and condemning his actions as despicable. The church emphasized that its members and practices strictly abhor idolatry and expressed disappointment that people often mistake anyone dressed in white for a Cherubim & Seraphim Church member.
The church’s investigation revealed that the anointing was conducted in the Ogijo area of Ogun State and identified the man being anointed as Benjamin, a self-acclaimed prophet with a makeshift church in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos State. The church stressed that these individuals are not recognized members of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria.
The controversy highlights the challenges faced by religious organizations in maintaining their reputations and the need for accountability among their leaders.
