NEW YORK – The first decisive legal blow to the infamous Bishop Lamor Whitehead, who is known for his luxurious life, his open cases with the Department of Justice, but also his general attitude, was brought by Greek-American lawyer Nicholas Yokos, representing a church in the Brooklyn area.

In particular, Bishop Whitehead, who is being prosecuted – in another case – for federal criminal offenses such as fraud and extortion, opened a new front, this time with the God Global Ministry Church, with the bone of contention being the ownership of the church on Foster Avenue in Brooklyn, which he claims passed into his possession.

According to a report by the New York Daily News, Bishop Whitehead is said to be the owner of the $2.2 million building that houses the church, following an offer made by his interest fund when the church was in bankruptcy and up for auction. Despite all this, the church continued to function, resulting in the Bishop ordering the site to be vacated and the locks changed, so that the building could be available and used as he wished.

“It was one of the most brazen and illegal commercial evictions I’ve seen in a decade of practicing law,” Yokos told the Daily News, noting that he immediately proceeded to appeal to the Housing Court which declared Whitehead’s move illegal, issuing an order for the church to return to the site.

In essence, the argument of the Greek-American lawyer – with roots from Limnos – was based on the common sense data of the existing legislation, which prohibits the eviction – even of an “irregular” tenant – without following a specific judicial procedure.

“Instead of proceeding through the court system, they engaged in an illegal self-eviction and wanton removal and destruction of property,” said Yokos, who also challenged Whitehead’s appeal in the New York State Supreme Court, the Daily News reported.

For their part, Bishop Whitehead’s lawyers continue to maintain that their client is entitled to enter the building as the rightful owner and that the church, while it should have vacated the premises, was still, in fact, occupying it, the Daily News reported, adding that they also indicated that they do not recognize the Housing Court’s decision and have already filed an appeal in the federal judicial system in Brooklyn.