Controversial Nigerian cleric, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has said he does not collect tithes from members of his church.

Odumeje made the statement in a viral video while speaking about the practice of tithing and giving in churches.

He criticised churches that, according to him, place too much emphasis on collecting money from worshippers while failing to provide practical evidence of miracles.

“Church has already caused a lot of things that make you people doubt the evidences and proven practical. All these people that collected tithes and teaching tithes every day when you come to church, they will be interested to make sure that they clear your pockets.

“And there is no one practical evidence and miracles that you will see. The only thing is stories. That is not the kind of church I run.”

Odumeje repeatedly stated that he neither preaches about tithing nor collects tithes from members of his church.

“Nobody pays me tithes. I don’t preach about tithes. Nobody pays me tithes. I don’t preach about tithes,” he said.

He added that his ministry focuses on what he described as practical demonstrations of spiritual power.

“What we do here is practical. My mission on earth is demonstration of power,” the cleric said.

The cleric, however, clarified that he does not consider tithing to be inherently wrong.

He said the decision to pay tithe should be left between an individual and God, rather than being imposed through fear or pressure.

“Give it to you that if you don’t do it, you will not go to heaven. That is not from God. So that is a decision between you and God,” he added.