The Nigerian-American Press Association (NAPA) has slammed YouTube over the suspension of popular Christian television channel, Emmanuel TV owned by Pastor TB Joshua of The Synagogue Church Of All Nations.

The channel, which had over 1.8 million subscribers and 600 million views before the suspension, was reportedly the most-watched Nigerian Christian ministry on YouTube.

NAPA, a major convergence of online editors while condemning the suspension of the channel by YouTube, explained that it was hastily-made, biased and vindictive adding that there were no correspondence or traceable records from YouTube earlier warning The Synagogue ministry of its alleged offense even after it hastily singled out seven videos it tagged ‘hate-speech’.

NAPA reacted through a statement signed by its National President, George Elijah Otumu, in the United States of America on Saturday.

It said the suspension was an indication that the management of YouTube had ‘intentionally’ concluded plans to end the rising profile of the Nigeria-based Synagogue Church of All Nation’s ministry as against several allegations without granting the church an avenue or judicial remedy of a rightful channel of reply to deny the allegation and to correct the ill-fated narratives.

The statement reads in part: “In an emergency board meeting via conference call late yesterday from Houston, Texas, United States, executives of Nigerian-American Press Association (NAPA), a major convergence of online editors representing leading mainstream media establishment in United States of America and Nigeria in a unanimous voice condemn the position taken by the management of YouTube to suspend the licence of Prophet T. B. Joshua’s media channel.

“NAPA strongly believe that YouTube decision was condemnable, ludicrous, hastily-made; biased and vindictive in its entirety,” as there were no correspondence or traceable records from YouTube earlier warning Synagogue Church of All Nation’s ministry of its alleged offense even after it hastily singled out seven videos it tagged ‘hate-speech’.

“YouTube so decided under the cover of darkness to take one out of the 7 videos as a reflection of its ban on T.B. Joshua’s media channel without allowing the Church in contention an avenue of a rightful channel of reply to deny the allegation.

“Going by YouTube action, it was crystal clear from all indications that their management had made up their minds to allegedly end the rising profile of Nigerian based Synagogue Church of All Nation’s ministry against every lawful avenues or judicial remedy that may have been available for T.B. Joshua to correct the ill-fated narratives.

“For the records, we are aware that a group in UK, Open Democracy, filed a complaint against Synagogue Church of All Nation’s ministry regarding a 2018 video in the Church where Prophet T. B. Joshua was alleged to have slapped one Ms. Okoye during a deliverance session. At no time was T. B. Joshua given any time to refute the hate allegation made."

NAPA issued a 72 hours ultimatum to YouTube to immediately restore the Synagogue Church of All Nation's ministry channel without any further delay.

“To allow T. B. Joshua appeal the suspension rightfully.

“That YouTube should tender an unreserved apology to Synagogue Church of All Nation’s ministry for misinforming the public,” it said.

NAPA assured it will not stop in constantly updating the public through its various publications on the matter.

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