Nigeria, March 6 -- Twenty-four hours after defending his unconventional tongue-to-tongue anointing ritual, Bishop Alfred 'Lahojah' Ogunnusi of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church has backtracked his stance.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the cleric sparked widespread controversy on social media after a viral video captured him performing the ritual with a younger bishop.

In the footage, Mr Ogunnusi stands beside a church member clad in a garment bearing the official emblem of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church. Holding a microphone, he proceeds with the anointing ceremony.

A younger bishop kneels before him as Mr Ogunnusi pours water over his head three times before handing him the bottle to drink from.

After taking a sip...