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Born in Nigeria · Nationality Nigerian — Religion / media

T.B. Joshua

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Stampede in Ghana during distribution of "holy water": four deaths” and “Claimed miraculous healings involving HIV/AIDS, cancer and Ebola: health concerns and allegations of staging”.

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Profile No. 0592 · Updated on 12 October 2026

6Documented controversies

8Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

années 2000-2024

Claimed miraculous healings involving HIV/AIDS, cancer and Ebola: health concerns and allegations of staging

Allegations

SCOAN promoted healings of serious illnesses and attributed healing properties to anointing water. Health critics warned of the risk of patients abandoning treatment, and in 2024 former officials accused the ministry of staging certain healings.

State of the evidence: Allegations
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianFrom Lagos to Winchester: how a divisive Nigerian pastor built a global followingMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2024

BBC investigation: posthumous allegations of rape, torture, violence and forced abortions

Investigation

A two-year BBC Africa Eye investigation, widely reported in the press, collected numerous testimonies accusing Joshua of rape, violence, torture, coercive isolation and forced abortions over an extended period.

State of the evidence: Alleged
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The Guardian NigeriaBBC investigation accuses late TB Joshua of rape, assault, tortureMediaHigh reliability
[2]
VOA AfricaAbuse Claims Against Late Nigerian Pastor Spotlight Divisive Church LeadersMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2021

YouTube suspends then closes Emmanuel TV over homosexuality-related "deliverance" videos

No legal proceedings

YouTube sanctioned and subsequently closed the Emmanuel TV channel following complaints about videos showing "deliverance" practices supposedly intended to expel demons associated with homosexuality, in which people were struck or held on the ground.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianFrom Lagos to Winchester: how a divisive Nigerian pastor built a global followingMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2016-2020

Incorrect public predictions: Hillary Clinton's victory and disappearance of Covid-19 by March 2020

No legal proceedings

Joshua predicted that a woman would win the 2016 US presidential election, then claimed that Covid-19 would disappear on 27 March 2020. Both predictions were contradicted by events and sparked controversy over the credibility of his prophecies.

Legal status — source text: Not applicable
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Premium TimesTB Joshua speaks on his false U.S. election prophesyMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Think Global Health / Council on Foreign RelationsThe Spiritual Dimension of COVID-19 in AfricaanalysisHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2014-2015

SCOAN building collapse: 116 deaths and coroner's finding of criminal negligence

Investigation — against la SCOAN

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

The collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) accommodation building in Lagos killed 116 people. In 2015, the coroner attributed the disaster to construction failures, found criminal negligence and recommended prosecution of the church and technical officials.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated
Person targeted by the proceedings: la SCOAN
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 3

[1]
ReutersChurch run by Nigeria's TB Joshua should be prosecuted over building collapseMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ReutersNigerian church rejects coroner report on building collapseMediaHigh reliability
[3]
The GuardianFrom Lagos to Winchester: how a divisive Nigerian pastor built a global followingMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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2013

Stampede in Ghana during distribution of "holy water": four deaths

No legal proceedings

A stampede during a SCOAN service in Ghana involving the distribution of "holy water" left four people dead and at least thirty injured, prompting criticism of crowd organisation and management surrounding T.B. Joshua's ministry.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianCelebrity pastor under fire after worshippers die in rush for 'holy water'MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)

Hillary Clinton1 documented reference
- Incorrect public predictions: Hillary Clinton's victory and disappearance of Covid-19 by March 2020 Source ↗

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.