Nollywood actress-turned-evangelist Tonto Dikeh (now officially preferring the title “Evangelist Tonto” or “Big T”) has ignited a fierce national debate following a viral video of her performing a deliverance session on a secondary school student.
The incident occurred on Friday, March 6, 2026, during an evangelism outreach. Tonto shared clips on her Instagram showing her praying intensely over a young girl in uniform who was pinned to the ground by members of her team. According to Tonto, she sensed a “spirit of death” in the area and the student approached her claiming to see recurring “demonic bats.”
The Backlash & Legal Concerns:
- VeryDarkMan’s Warning: Popular influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM) blasted the actress, warning her to stay away from schools in his community. He accused her of using vulnerable children for “dramatic spiritual displays” and social media content, urging her to provide tangible support like school renovations instead.
- Legal Threats: Human rights lawyer Ikechukwu Obasi has threatened legal action, describing the display as “abusive and degrading.” He raised concerns about child safety and the violation of the minor’s privacy, noting that the girl was pressed against “stony ground” during the session.
- Child Rights Violation: Critics have pointed out that recording and posting a minor in such a vulnerable state may violate Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and the Child Rights Act, which protect children from unauthorized public exposure.
Context of Her “New Life”: This event comes just weeks after Tonto’s February 16, 2026, graduation from a discipleship class at Streams of Joy International (Pastor Jerry Eze’s church). Since her “spiritual rebirth,” she has renounced her “King Tonto” title and joined the church’s Temple Keepers Department full-time, where she was recently seen cleaning the children’s restrooms as an act of humility.
While some fans are celebrating her “spiritual growth” and reporting that over 100 students gave their lives to Christ during the outreach, the move has polarized the public, with many questioning where the line between genuine ministry and celebrity showmanship should be drawn.
