Fake Prophet Jailed for N136.4m Scam as Court Orders Seizure of Property to Compensate Victims

…Claimed He Could Raise the Dead, Deliver ₦30bn Lotto Windfall and Perform ‘Miracles’ for a Fee

By AnambraDaily | Reporter

The Enugu State High Court has sentenced a self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, to prison after he admitted defrauding unsuspecting worshippers of over N136.4 million through fake prophecies, bogus investment schemes and deceptive spiritual claims.

Justice H. O. Eya, sitting at the Enugu State High Court, Independence Layout, convicted the cleric on a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and stealing, following his guilty plea to charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the EFCC, Ajuluchukwucheya fraudulently collected N136,436,000 from members of his ministry between 2023 and February 2025 after falsely claiming he had won N30 billion in the Baba Ijebu lottery and promising investors huge returns from a purported investment scheme.

The charge read in part:

“You obtained the sum of N136,436,000 from unsuspecting members of your church under the false pretence that you had won N30 billion in Baba Ijebu lottery and that investors in your scheme would receive dividends according to their investments—a representation you knew to be false.”

The offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

After the charges were read, the defendant pleaded guilty. Prosecuting counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence him in line with the law.

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

In addition to the sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s landed property—covered by a Customary Certificate of Occupancy dated July 25, 1989—to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The property is to be sold, with the proceeds used to compensate victims of the fraud.

Victims Recount Ordeal

The prosecution revealed that investigations began after Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane petitioned the EFCC, alleging that the self-acclaimed prophet exploited her grief by claiming he possessed supernatural powers to resurrect her deceased husband.

She further alleged that he persuaded her to invest in a fraudulent financial scheme, collecting N6.7 million for the supposed resurrection and investment opportunity.

Another victim, Okey Uwakwe, told investigators that the convict convinced him he could spiritually compel his brother, who had been living abroad since 1997, to return home. Believing the claim, he paid N6,231,400 for the so-called spiritual intervention.

Fake Spiritual Products

The EFCC disclosed that as investigations progressed, numerous members of the convict’s ministry came forward with similar allegations of fraud.

Investigators uncovered what they described as the convict’s pattern of deception—persuading worshippers to purchase so-called prosperity and miracle items marketed as channels of divine breakthroughs.

Among the products sold were “Miracle Stickers,” “Spiritual Dragon,” “Holy Ghost Thunder,” and several other purported spiritual materials, all allegedly used to exploit vulnerable followers seeking healing, prosperity and solutions to personal challenges.

The anti-graft agency said the conviction underscores its commitment to protecting citizens from financial crimes disguised as religious activities and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.