Enugu Court Jails Fake Prophet Who Promised to Raise the Dead, Defrauded Victims of N136.4m

• An Enugu State High Court has convicted and sentenced self-acclaimed prophet Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over a N136.4 million fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of self-acclaimed cleric, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over a N136.4 million fraud involving false prophecies and fake spiritual services.

Justice H. O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, convicted the cleric after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

The offences, according to the EFCC, contravene the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Following his guilty plea, the prosecution, led by Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant.

Justice Eya subsequently sentenced Ajuluchukwucheya to one year imprisonment, with an option of a N500,000 fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s landed property to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The property, covered by a Customary Certificate of Occupancy dated July 25, 1989, will be sold, with the proceeds used to compensate victims who lost money to his fraudulent activities.

According to the anti-graft agency, investigations began after a petition was filed by Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane, who alleged that the cleric convinced her he possessed the spiritual power to raise her late husband from the dead.

She told investigators that the suspect also persuaded her to invest in a fraudulent scheme that promised financial returns. In total, she paid N6.7 million for the supposed resurrection ritual and investment programme.

Another victim, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that the self-acclaimed prophet collected N6.23 million after claiming he could spiritually influence his brother, who had travelled abroad in 1997, to return to Nigeria.

The EFCC said that as investigations progressed, more members of the convict’s ministry came forward with allegations that they had also been defrauded.

Investigators further discovered that Ajuluchukwucheya allegedly operated by convincing followers to purchase so-called “prosperity products”, including Miracle Sticker, Spiritual Dragon, Holy Ghost Thunder and other items, while making false promises of miracles, prosperity and supernatural intervention.

The EFCC said the conviction underscores its commitment to prosecuting individuals who exploit religious beliefs to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.