The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun probing a self-proclaimed cleric, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, also known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over allegations that he defrauded worshippers of ₦70.39 million.
According to The Punch, in a statement shared on its official X handle on Wednesday, the commission said operatives of its Enugu Zonal Directorate are investigating claims that the suspect collected funds from church members through different schemes, allegedly tied to promises of spiritual solutions and investment returns.
One of the complainants, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that the cleric received ₦6.23 million from him for “spiritual works” intended to influence his brother, who has reportedly lived abroad since 1997, to return to Nigeria.
Uwakwe also claimed that ₦3.25 million was paid for spiritual intervention meant to help his childless sister-in-law conceive after more than 15 years of infertility.
According to the EFCC, the petitioner further alleged that the cleric told members of his ministry he had won ₦33 billion in a lottery and encouraged them to contribute money, promising they would benefit from the supposed winnings.
He was also said to have contributed an additional ₦3.35 million to the alleged scheme and another ₦500,000 for a rice-processing venture the suspect reportedly valued at ₦1 billion.
In total, Uwakwe claimed he paid ₦13.33 million to the cleric without receiving any returns.
The commission added that other members of the ministry have since come forward with similar complaints during the investigation.
It also said some congregants accused the cleric of selling items described as “holy ghost thunder”, “miracle stickers” and “spiritual dragons”, which were allegedly presented as solutions to personal problems and pathways to prosperity.
“One of the members and a victim of the suspect said, ‘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 persisted,” the EFCC said.
The EFCC stated that the total amount allegedly traced to members’ contributions stands at ₦70.39 million, adding that investigations are ongoing and the suspect will be arraigned in court once concluded.
