Ironically, it was pressure from the fellowship that allowed Joshua to flourish even further and set up Emmanuel TV. On April 30 2004, a law by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) came into effect, making it illegal to broadcast material containing the performance of miracles that have not been verified before the broadcast.

“It was instigated by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, with the NBC acting as a gatekeeper,” said Ukah. “[The president at the time, Olesugun] Obasanjo saw himself as a Pentecostal pastor. He fraternised with Pentecostal pastors and moved from church to church. The law forced TB to set up Emmanuel TV [which operates out of Johannesburg].”