A self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Ajuluchukwucheya, has been convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment by Enugu State High Court for defrauding his church members of N136.4 million.
Penpushing reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that its investigations showed that the modus operandi of the self-acclaimed prophet was luring his church members into buying his “products” for prosperity.
The spokesperson of the commission Dele Oyewale in a statement explained that the agency prosecuted Ajuluchukwucheya popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, on a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N136.4 million.
Penpushing further reports that Oyewale in the statement added that the self-acclaimed prophet was convicted when he was arraigned before the trial judge Justice H. O. Eya, but did not mention the date.
The statement said count one of the charges alleged that Ajuluchukwucheya with intent to defraud N136.4 million had, between 2023 to February 2025 in Enugu, falsely announced to his church members that he won N30 billion in a lotto game and then asked the members to contribute financially to him in order to receive dividends from the N30 billion.
Penpushing also reports that the commission told the court that the offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The self-acclaimed cleric pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him, and in view of his guilty plea, counsel to the commission, Rotimi Ajobiewe, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Penpushing reports Justice Eya delivering judgment convicted and sentenced ‘Pastor Koboko’ to one-year imprisonment with an option of N500, 000 fine, and equally ordered that the convict’s landed property covered by Customary Certificate of Occupancy, dated 25th July 1989, registered as number. 92 at page 92 in Volume 512 of the Land Registry, Enugu, shall be forfeited to the Nigerian Government through the anti-crimes agency and shall be sold and the proceeds used as restitution of the victims of the offence.
The commission spokesperson recalling, said the arrest and prosecution of Ajuluchukwucheya followed petitions from Nigerians who were victims of the convict’s fake miracle scandal, adding that during the agency investigations, members of Ajuluchukwucheya’s church started “flooding” the agency office in Enugu with claims of how they were defrauded by the self-acclaimed prophet.
Penpushing further reports that Oyewale said the prosperity products which the ‘prophet’ allegedly sold to his church members included “miracle stickers,” “spiritual dragons” and “holy ghost thunder.”
The agency spokesperson giving an instance of the fraud, said one of the petitioners, Nkiruka Ngene, said the convict presented himself as a true man of God and lured her into believing that he had the power to raise her late husband from death.
Penpushing also reports that Ngene, said she was equally lured into paying for a fraudulent scheme where members would benefit according to their investments, stressing that she paid a total of N6.7 million to the convict for the fraudulent scheme and for the resurrection of her late husband.
The statement stated that another petitioner, Okey Uwakwe, said Ajuluchukwucheya presented himself as a “true man of God, capable of luring his brother who travelled outside the country since 1997 to return home.
Penpushing reports that the petitioner added that he paid N6.2 million to Ajuluchukwucheya for some spiritual works and that the self-acclaimed prophet equally deceived him into believing that he had the power to make his sister-in-law who had been childless for over 15 years to conceive for which he separately paid N3.2 million. FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo
