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Oscar Okhifo
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have launched an investigation into a self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, also known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over allegations that he defrauded members of his ministry of more than N70.3 million through purported spiritual interventions and bogus investment schemes.
The anti-graft agency said preliminary findings indicate that the suspect allegedly obtained N70,391,600 from several members of his ministry after promising miraculous solutions to personal challenges and lucrative investment opportunities that never materialised.
According to the EFCC, one of the petitioners, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that Ajuluchukwucheya claimed to possess supernatural powers capable of compelling his brother, who had lived overseas since 1997, to return home.
Uwakwe told investigators that he paid the self-styled prophet N6,231,400 for the spiritual exercise but got no result.
He further alleged that the suspect demanded and received another N3,251,200 after promising to use spiritual means to enable his sister-in-law, who had been unable to conceive for more than 15 years, to become pregnant.
The petitioner also claimed that Ajuluchukwucheya informed members of his congregation that he had won N33 billion through a lottery game and encouraged them to contribute money, assuring them they would share in the proceeds once the funds were accessed.
Believing the claim, Uwakwe said he contributed N3,349,000 to the scheme in anticipation of receiving returns.
The suspect was also alleged to have solicited investments from church members for the purchase of a proposed N1 billion rice processing machine, promising contributors partnership in the venture. Uwakwe said he invested an additional N500,000 in the project.
The petitioner maintained that he paid a cumulative N13,331,600 to the suspect through the various schemes without receiving any of the promised benefits or returns.
The EFCC said its investigation has since attracted several other members of the ministry who also alleged that they were deceived into parting with money under similar circumstances.
One of the alleged victims narrated: “When I came there, 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 N33 billion with Baba Ijebu. He said the money could not be retrieved because of how huge the amount was. So, members of the church would have to help him by buying Holy Ghost Thunder to blast the spiritual army being organised by Baba Ijebu. He sold each of the spiritual thunder for N38,000 and we had to buy 1,000 pieces to fight Baba Ijebu’s spiritual army.”
The commission said the cumulative amount allegedly collected from members of the ministry stands at N70,391,600.
Preliminary investigations, according to the EFCC, revealed that the suspect’s modus operandi involved persuading worshippers to purchase items he described as spiritual products for prosperity, including miracle stickers, spiritual dragons and Holy Ghost Thunder.
Another alleged victim told investigators: “He asked me to do what they tagged Holy Ghost Thunder, believing it was going to solve my problems. I bought it and after all the payments, nothing happened and my problems still persisted.”
The EFCC said the suspect is under investigation and will be arraigned before a competent court upon conclusion of the probe, if sufficient evidence is established against him.
