Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Loveworld Limited, which runs the Loveworld channel, has been sanctioned by the UK’s broadcasting regulator, the Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom.
According to the BBC, the station was punished after a news programme and a live sermon included “potentially harmful claims about causes of, and treatments for COVID-19”.
Oyakhilome had controversially claimed that the global COVID-19 was linked to the 5G network and alleged that it was part of a plot to create a new world order.
“Loveworld News included unsubstantiated claims that 5G was the cause of the pandemic, and that this was the subject of a ‘global cover-up’”, Ofcom was quoted as saying by the BBC.
The programmes referred to are believed to have been aired in early April, The Guardian UK reported.
Ofcom said one of the programmes echoed claims from US President Donald Trump that an anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, was a cure for the virus.
“LoveWorld News featured potentially harmful statements about the coronavirus pandemic and adequate protection was not provided to viewers,” a statement from Ofcom said.
“We have imposed a sanction on the broadcaster, requiring it to broadcast statements of our findings. We are considering whether to impose any further sanction.”
Oyakhilome’s church, Christ Embassy, has at least 90 branches in the United Kingdom.
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