EFCC Secures Conviction Of ‘Prophet Sunday Koboko’ Over N136m Fraud, Court Orders Property Forfeiture
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of a self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, after an Enugu State High Court found him guilty of defrauding members of his ministry of more than N136 million through a fake lottery windfall and fraudulent investment scheme, and ordered the forfeiture of his property to compensate victims.
Justice H. O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court, sitting at Independence Layout, Enugu, convicted Ajuluchukwucheya after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing in a case prosecuted by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency told the court that the convict fraudulently obtained N136,436,000 from unsuspecting church members between 2023 and February 2025 after falsely claiming he had won N30 billion in the Baba Ijebu lottery and promising investors returns based on the amount they contributed to his investment scheme.
According to the EFCC, the false claims persuaded scores of worshippers to part with their money on the assurance that the purported lottery winnings would fund generous dividends for all participants.
One of the charges read: “Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, sometimes between 2023 to February 2025 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Enugu State High Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N136,436,000 from unsuspecting members of your church under the false pretence that you have won N30,000,000,000 in Baba Ijebu lotto game and that investors in your investment scheme will receive dividends according to their investments, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.”
The offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence him in line with the provisions of the law.
Justice Eya subsequently sentenced Ajuluchukwucheya to one year imprisonment, with an option of a N500,000 fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of his landed property covered by a Customary Certificate of Occupancy dated July 25, 1989, registered as No. 92 at page 92 in Volume 512 of the Land Registry, Enugu.
The judge further directed that the property be sold and the proceeds applied as restitution to victims of the fraudulent scheme.
The EFCC disclosed that investigations commenced following a petition by Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane, who alleged that the convict presented himself as a genuine man of God and deceived her into believing he possessed the power to resurrect her late husband.
She told investigators that she paid N6.7 million for purported spiritual services, including the resurrection claim and participation in the fraudulent investment scheme.
Another petitioner, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that Ajuluchukwucheya convinced him he could use spiritual powers to bring back his brother, who travelled abroad in 1997 and never returned.
Uwakwe reportedly paid the cleric N6.23 million for the supposed spiritual intervention.
Investigators said several other members of the ministry later came forward with similar complaints, alleging that Ajuluchukwucheya persuaded worshippers to purchase so-called prosperity items, including “miracle sticker,” “spiritual dragon,” and “holyghost thunder,” while promising divine breakthroughs, miraculous interventions and financial rewards.
The EFCC said the conviction underscores its determination to investigate and prosecute individuals who exploit religion and the faith of unsuspecting members of the public for personal enrichment.
The commission urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid fraudulent schemes disguised as spiritual interventions or investment opportunities.
