THISDAY Suspends 2 Editors Over Oyedepo’s Visa Report

Two Deputy Editors of THISDAY newspaper have been suspended indefinitely over the false story: “Drama as US Embassy Denies Bishop Oyedepo Visa,” published last week Friday.

THISDAY management announced the suspension of Mr. Yemi Ajayi and Mr. Olawale Olaleye in a statement Tuesday.

The story, which went viral, claimed that popular Nigerian clergy, Bishop David Oyedepo was denied visa by the United States Embassy and that the Bishop lost his temper and created scene at the embassy before he was eventually granted the visa.

The story was subsequently refuted by both the embassy and Oyedepo’s church, Living Faith Ministry aka Winners Chapel as false.

An excerpt of THISDAY statement reads: “Following the rebuttal, the newspaper management investigated the publication and found that the two deputy editors failed to follow its well established traditions of carrying out the necessary checks and confirmations expected of personnel of their status in a sensitive story of that nature.

“They were, therefore, suspended indefinitely.

“The newspaper had on Saturday published a Corrigendum, acknowledging the error in the publication, and apologised to the revered Bishop for the embarrassment the story might have caused him.”