Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have launched an investigation into the activities of self-acclaimed prophet Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over allegations that he defrauded members of his church of more than N70.39 million.
In a statement, the anti-graft agency said the investigation followed a petition submitted by one Okey Uwakwe, who accused the cleric of obtaining large sums of money from him and other worshippers under various pretences.
According to Uwakwe, Ajuluchukwucheya claimed he possessed spiritual powers capable of persuading his brother, who had been living abroad since 1997, to return to Nigeria. Based on this assurance, the petitioner said he paid the prophet N6.23 million for spiritual interventions.
The petitioner further alleged that the cleric convinced him that he could help his sister-in-law, who had been unable to conceive for more than 15 years, become pregnant. He reportedly paid an additional N3.25 million for the spiritual exercise.
Uwakwe also claimed that the suspect announced to members of his congregation that he had won N33 billion in a lottery and promised that anyone who contributed financially toward accessing the funds would receive a share of the proceeds. Believing the claim, the petitioner said he contributed N3.35 million.
In another scheme, the prophet allegedly invited church members to invest in a purported N1 billion rice-processing venture, assuring them of partnership benefits. Uwakwe said he invested N500,000 in the project.
The petitioner stated that he paid a total of N13.33 million to the suspect through various transactions but received none of the promised benefits.
The EFCC disclosed that as investigations progressed, more members of the ministry came forward with similar allegations, claiming they had also been deceived into parting with their money.
One church member alleged that the prophet persuaded worshippers to purchase what he called “Holy Ghost Thunder” to help him recover the purported N33 billion lottery winnings.
“When I joined the ministry, there were several investment schemes being promoted. One of them involved the claim that he had won N33 billion through Baba Ijebu. He told members the money could not be released because spiritual forces were blocking it and that we needed to buy Holy Ghost Thunder to defeat the spiritual army standing in the way. Each item was sold for N38,000, and members were encouraged to buy large quantities,” the member alleged.
According to the EFCC, the total amount allegedly collected from church members by the suspect stands at N70,391,600.
Investigators said the cleric’s alleged method involved persuading followers to purchase various spiritual items, including miracle stickers, spiritual dragons and Holy Ghost Thunder, with promises of prosperity and solutions to personal challenges.
Another alleged victim told investigators that he bought one of the products in the hope that it would solve his problems.
“He asked me to purchase what they called Holy Ghost Thunder, assuring me it would change my situation. I paid for it, but nothing happened and my problems remained the same,” the victim claimed.
The EFCC said Ajuluchukwucheya will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
