The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of a self-acclaimed cleric, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, also known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, for defrauding members of his ministry and other unsuspecting victims of over ₦136.4 million through fraudulent schemes disguised as spiritual interventions and investment opportunities.
Ajuluchukwucheya was convicted by Justice H.O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, after pleading guilty to a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.
The prosecution revealed that the defendant, between 2023 and February 2025, deceived members of his congregation and other victims into parting with huge sums of money under the false claim that he had won ₦30 billion in a Baba Ijebu lottery and that those who invested in his purported financial scheme would receive substantial returns based on the amount they contributed.
According to the EFCC, the fraudulent claims enabled the convict to obtain a total of ₦136,436,000 from victims who believed they were participating in a legitimate investment programme backed by divine favour.
One of the charges preferred against him stated that he fraudulently obtained the sum from unsuspecting church members by falsely representing that he had won a multi-billion-naira lottery jackpot and that participants in his investment scheme would earn dividends proportionate to their investments, even though he knew the claims were false.
The charge was filed under Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, an offence punishable under Section 1(3) of the same legislation.
When the charges were read in court, Ajuluchukwucheya pleaded guilty, prompting counsel for the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Rotimi Ajobiewe, to urge the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the law.
Following his guilty plea, Justice Eya convicted the defendant and sentenced him to one year imprisonment, with an option of paying a ₦500,000 fine.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of one of the convict’s landed properties to the Federal Government as restitution for victims of the fraud.
The forfeited property, covered by a Customary Certificate of Occupancy dated July 25, 1989, and registered as No. 92 at Page 92 in Volume 512 of the Land Registry, Enugu, is to be confiscated by the Federal Government through the EFCC. The court further directed that the property be sold, with proceeds from the sale used to compensate victims who lost money in the fraudulent schemes.
The conviction followed extensive investigations initiated after the EFCC received petitions from several victims who accused the self-styled prophet of exploiting their religious beliefs and personal vulnerabilities to obtain large sums of money through false promises.
One of the petitioners, Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane, alleged that Ajuluchukwucheya convinced her that he possessed supernatural powers capable of raising her late husband from the dead.
According to her petition, the cleric persuaded her to pay millions of naira for what he described as spiritual exercises aimed at resurrecting her deceased husband. She also claimed that he convinced her to invest in his purported wealth-generation scheme, assuring participants of extraordinary financial returns.
She disclosed that she paid a total of ₦6.7 million, covering both the alleged spiritual intervention and investment programme, only to discover that she had been deceived.
Another complainant, Okey Uwakwe, narrated how the convict preyed on his emotional circumstances by promising to use spiritual powers to influence his brother, who had travelled abroad in 1997, to return home.
The petitioner alleged that the cleric demanded and received ₦6,231,400 to carry out the supposed spiritual assignment.
Investigators said that as news of the EFCC investigation spread, numerous members of Ajuluchukwucheya’s ministry and other alleged victims began reporting similar experiences to the commission.
According to the anti-graft agency, the growing number of complaints exposed what investigators described as a carefully orchestrated scheme through which the cleric allegedly exploited the faith of worshippers for financial gain.
The EFCC said investigations uncovered a consistent pattern in the convict’s operations, revealing that he frequently persuaded members of his congregation to purchase so-called spiritual items which he claimed possessed miraculous powers capable of bringing prosperity, protection, healing and breakthroughs.
Among the products allegedly sold to members were items branded as “Miracle Sticker,” “Spiritual Dragon,” “Holy Ghost Thunder,” and several other religious objects purported to possess supernatural abilities.
The commission said these products formed part of a wider fraudulent enterprise designed to convince worshippers that purchasing them would unlock divine blessings and financial prosperity.
Investigators also alleged that the convict repeatedly manipulated religious teachings and spiritual beliefs to gain the confidence of followers before introducing investment opportunities and miracle packages that ultimately turned out to be fraudulent.
The EFCC noted that many victims only realised they had been deceived after repeated promises failed to materialise and requests for refunds were ignored.
The anti-graft agency described the conviction as another demonstration of its determination to tackle financial crimes committed under the guise of religion, spirituality or investment.
The commission urged members of the public to exercise caution when confronted with individuals making extraordinary financial or spiritual claims, warning Nigerians against investing money in schemes that promise unrealistic returns or exploit religious sentiments.
The EFCC also advised citizens to conduct due diligence before committing funds to any investment programme and to promptly report suspicious activities to relevant law enforcement agencies.
The conviction of Ajuluchukwucheya adds to a growing number of cases involving individuals accused of using religious platforms and false spiritual claims to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
With the court ordering the forfeiture and sale of his property for the benefit of victims, authorities say the judgment represents an important step towards securing justice for those who suffered financial losses while reinforcing efforts to deter similar fraudulent activities across the country.
