Founder of evangelical church at the centre of western Sydney Covid breach was repeatedly warned against spouting false anti-vaccine rhetoric to his 13million followers and fined $240k for claiming the pandemic was a hoax
- Police called to church in western Sydney, where adults and kids were gathering
- Illegal gathering in Blacktown held several hours before curfew came into effect
- Police issued $35,000 in penalty infringement notices to attendees and church
- Global megachurch fined in the United Kingdom for spouting anti-vax rhetoric
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An evangelical megachurch at the centre of a Covid lockdown breach was fined and forced to publicly retract nonsense anti-vaccine rhetoric it aired during a 29-hour sermon.
Since its inception in Nigeria in 1987, Christ Embassy has amassed more than 13 million followers across five continents, helmed by pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
The megachurch, its subsidiary global television networks and Oyakhilome have repeatedly been criticised for promoting dangerous and unfounded myths about the pandemic across the United Kingdom and in Nigeria.
On Sunday night, the Sydney branch in Blacktown in Sydney's west breached lockdown orders by holding an in-person service with upwards of 60 parishioners.
Blacktown is one of 12 local government areas under particularly strict lockdown to control the spread of Covid.
Since its inception in Nigeria in 1987, Christ Embassy has amassed more than 13 million followers across five continents, helmed by pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Police shut down the event about 7.30pm and issued $35,000 worth of fines to 30 guests and church leaders.
The fines are pocket change in comparison to a $AUD240,000 fine issued by the UK Office of Communications in March after Christ Embassy's television station, Loveworld Television Network, was determined to have breached broadcaster guidelines.
A 29-hour show titled 'The Global Day of Prayer' included sermons with 'potentially harmful' Covid claims when it was broadcast in January, Ofcom found.
The sermons included allegations the virus was 'planned' and vaccines were a 'sinister' way to 'nanochip' and control people,' the regulatory body found.
In a previous breach on the same station, a presenter falsely linked the Covid pandemic to the rollout of the 5G telecommunications network.
'This is not coronavirus, but cell poisoning. Remember 5G started in China. Wuhan is one of the provinces where 5G has been rolled out,' she said. The program was later ordered to explain how it breached regulations.
Thirty adults attendees at the church sermon held in Blacktown were issued $1,000 penalty infringement notices on Sunday night
Oyakhilome's sermons and unfounded claims about Covid have been repeatedly 'fact checked' and in some instances removed from social media all together to avoid giving his 2.1million followers false information
Oyakhilome's sermons and unfounded claims about Covid have been repeatedly 'fact checked' and in some instances removed from social media all together to avoid giving his 2.1million followers false information.
Most recently, a post written on a Facebook page for Oyakhilome's church falsely alleged 'vaccine is a gene therapy which is capable of opening the DNA up to be editable'.
Hundreds of followers shared the debunked claim, which he allegedly repeated in a sermon that was posted - and later deleted - on YouTube.
Oyakhilome claims to be a faith healing minister who is a 'unique minister... sent from God, who exudes an insatiable passion to reach the peoples of the world with God's manifested presence'.
The Sydney branch of the global church, which was founded in Nigeria, is run by local couple Marvin (pictured) and Isioma Osaghae
Most recently, a post written on a Facebook page for Oyakhilome's church falsely alleged 'vaccine is a gene therapy which is capable of opening the DNA up to be editable'
Marvin Osaghae, the local Christ Embassy pastor in New South Wales who was present during Sunday night's Covid breach, is a devout follower of Oyakhilome and his teachings.
Mr Osaghae and his wife, Isioma, are considered 'avid students of the Word and a privileged followers of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome', according to the church.
During Sunday's sermon, Mr Osaghae discussed the Covid crisis, praying that businesses would soon return to normal and streets would 'come back alive'.
'In the name of Jesus we refuse, every lockdown in our cities,' he said in widely distributed footage of a sermon he delivered on Sunday.
'We declare the lockdowns are over in the name of Jesus. Lockdowns are over in the cities of New South Wales.'
Marvin Osaghae delivered a spirited sermon to Christ Embassy Sydney parishioners on Sunday in which he vowed to 'refuse every lockdown in our cities'
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Police were called to a church in Blacktown on Sunday night, where 60 adults were children were participating in a sermon inside
Footage of police at the scene shows many of the parishioners without face masks, which are mandatory across NSW unless a person is exercising.
Extra officers were called to the church to help break up the gathering and obtain details of attendees. Early indications suggest many had travelled from other locked-down suburbs, including the Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield LGAs.
Police allege there were also no mandatory QR codes at the church entrance.
Pastor Osaghae denied hosting the event but admitted he was there for 'the party'.
Sunday night's event was held just hours after the church posted an online sermon.
The church also advertised its afternoon sermon on Instagram on Sunday, which people could attend 'online or onsite.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Christ Embassy Sydney for comment.
Christ Embassy Church advertised its afternoon sermon on Instagram on Sunday, encouraging people to attend 'online or onsite.'
Blacktown is one of the 12 Sydney local government areas where tough new restrictions came into effect from midnight Monday in a desperate attempt to curb Sydney's Covid-19 outbreak.
New restrictions include a one hour exercise limit and evening curfew between 9pm and 5am.
Service NSW-issued permits will be required for authorised workers travelling in and out of the 12 LGAs of concern for work from August 28.
It's also one of the worst areas in terms of Covid-19 infections as NSW recorded 830 cases on Sunday, the highest number of daily new cases in Australia since pandemic began in early 2020.
More than 1,200 cases have been recorded in Blacktown in the last month, including almost 700 without a known source of infection.
Police allege there were no mandatory QR codes when they were called to Christ Embassy Sydney (pictured) in the Covid-19 hotspot of Blacktown on Sunday night
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