Chiluba worships in controversial church

Chiluba - weekend with man of 'miraculous powers'

By Barnaby Phillips in Lagos

The Zambian president, Frederick Chiluba, has spent the weekend worshipping at the church of a controversial preacher in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos.

The preacher, known as Prophet Temitope Joshua, says he derives miraculous powers from God that enable him to cure many diseases as well as cleanse people of evil spirits.

His Synagogue Church has been visited by prominent Nigerians but President Chiluba is believed to be the first foreign head of state to worship there.

A spokeswoman for the Synagogue Church told the BBC that President Chiluba had arrived there on Friday and would not be leaving until Monday.

'Exploiting' the desperate

She declined to give exact details of what the Zambian President has been doing.

Retired Liberian warlord, Prince Yomie Johnson, is said to be at the church

Prophet Temitope Joshua - who describes himself as a servant of God sent to save mankind - says among other things that he can cure Aids and cancer and drive demons out of those unfortunate enough to be possessed.

He is a very charismatic man whose services are full of drama.

But he's been criticised by other churches as well as organisations trying to control the spread of HIV in Nigeria, who accuse him of exploiting the desperation of sick and poor people.

One local newspaper reported that other dignitaries at the Synagogue Church this weekend included an American former Mr Universe as well as the retired Liberian warlord, Prince Yomie Johnson.