3 amazing things we now know courtesy of Apostle Suleiman

OK just in case you really are living under that rock in a remote area of nowhere, a young Canadian-based lady called Stephanie Otobo has recently come out with allegations that she had a sexual relationship with Apostle Suleiman and that he gave her something to induce an abortion.

Suleiman's wife has run out to do very desperate damage-control tactics, which actually worsen her husband's plight. Suleiman got the girl arrested for blackmail and terrorism (no, I don't understand this, either).

There have been videos and pictures of individuals in various stages of undress. And Stephanie clearly didn't come to play – she has named an actress, Daniella Okeke as one of Suleiman's (ex) sexual partners.

Three things that make me shake my head:

1. The defence by the wife

OK, I don't think anyone really expected her to go, “Oh, my husband is an insert-appropriate-expletive.” But there are times when you don't defend someone because you actually worsen the matter. Someone really should have told her that.

You cannot be saying, “That is not my husband.” Madam, are we looking at the same picture? But then, to be fair, she did talk about a picture in her mind and we all have a picture in our minds, of our loved ones. That's the reason some women don't leave abusive relationships; some of those I've talked to, insist that “You don't understand, he's a really lovely man even if he beats me”.

The picture of the really lovely man is the one in their mind; it's not real.

2. The “Touch Not My Anointed” Brigade is even more gullible

I understand English is not everyone's first language, but you cannot blackmail someone unless you actually have something on them I find the use of the phrase “blackmail” in this situation, as opposed to “figment of the imagination” or “outright lie” very interesting. If someone has cooked up something, that's very different from blackmail.

Blackmail indicates that there is something to worry about. This thing about Fulani herdsmen is also silly; did the Fulani herdsmen get Suleiman to expose himself and travel with Stephanie, as she has alleged?

Threatening someone with the same kinda leprosy that befell Miriam, because she touched an 'anointed' is what makes me baffled when Nigerian women complain that their sisters-in-law don't speak up for them when they are maltreated in their marriage.

If Miriam hadn't spoken up, she wouldn't have been reportedly plagued with leprosy. Who wants to get leprosy on top of female solidarity for their brother's wife?

3. The things Instagram (and lack of common sense) will cause

There are so many ways to unpack this. And none of them is funny. There is a reason that female entertainers appear to be doing better than their male counterparts. But I won't dwell on that.

I am just amused that an Instagram slay queen can receive a gift of a car from a man and excitedly display the keys and car on social media without actually checking that the paperwork is in order.

Chioma Nnani is the award-winning author of FOREVER THERE FOR YOU and BECAUSE HOME IS. One of Africa's most fearless storytellers, she was a 2016 CREATIVE AFRICAN Awards finalist in the category of “Best Fiction Writer”, and a DIVAS OF COLOUR 2016 finalist.

Chioma has also been nominated twice for a UK BEFFTA (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts) Award in the “Best Author” category, was named “One of 100 Most Influential Creatives” in the world by London-based C.Hub Magazine, lives in Abuja, where she runs THE FEARLESS STORYTELLER HOUSE EMPORIUM LTD, can be reached on @ChiomaNnani and blogs at for which she has won a 2016 Blog of the Year BEFFTA.