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Prophet defrauded church members of N70m via fake miracles, EFCC investigates
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Prophet defrauded church members of N70m via fake miracles, EFCC investigates

From Premium Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating a self-proclaimed prophet, Godwin Ajuluchukwucheya, for allegedly defrauding church members of N70.3 million in Enugu State.
  • Investigations began after a victim, Okey Uwakwe, petitioned the EFCC, alleging the prophet promised to make his brother return from abroad and his childless sister-in-law conceive, demanding millions for spiritual works.
  • The EFCC stated that numerous church members have come forward with similar fraud claims, detailing how the prophet lured them into contributing to various schemes, including a N1 billion rice processing machine and a lottery win, totaling over N70 million.

Authorities in Nigeria are investigating a self-proclaimed prophet accused of defrauding his church members of over 70 million naira (approximately $47,000 USD) through alleged fake miracles and fraudulent investment schemes. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a probe into Godwin Ajuluchukwucheya, also known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, in Enugu State.

The investigation was prompted by a petition from Okey Uwakwe, one of the alleged victims. Uwakwe claims Ajuluchukwucheya presented himself as a divine messenger capable of facilitating his brother's return from abroad and helping his sister-in-law conceive after 15 years of childlessness. Uwakwe reported paying over 9.5 million naira for these supposed spiritual interventions.

When I came there (the ministry) a whole lot of things were going on as investments in the church which I partook in virtually all of them…ranging from the issue of him winning N33billion with Baba Ijebu (lotto game).

— One of the victimsDescribing the fraudulent investment schemes presented by the prophet to his church members.

Further allegations detail Ajuluchukwucheya's claims of winning 33 billion naira in a lottery and soliciting financial contributions from members to share in the winnings. He also allegedly convinced members to invest in a 1 billion naira rice processing machine, with Uwakwe alone contributing 500,000 naira. The total amount Uwakwe claims to have sent to the prophet is over 13.3 million naira.

During the EFCC's investigation, numerous other church members have reportedly come forward, corroborating the allegations. One victim described being drawn into various church investments, including the lottery scheme. Ajuluchukwucheya allegedly told members that the 33 billion naira could not be retrieved due to its immense size, prompting them to purchase "holy ghost thunder" for 38,000 naira each to overcome spiritual obstacles blocking the funds' retrieval. The EFCC stated the total sum defrauded from church members amounts to N70,391,600.

The total amount members of Ajuluchukwucheya’s church alleged he took from them is N70, 391, 600.

— EFCC statementStating the total sum defrauded from church members according to their allegations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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