From promises to raise the dead and multiply wealth to selling ‘Holy Ghost Thunder’ and crime-linked charms, two landmark convictions signal a tougher judicial stance against spiritual fraud.
Nigeria’s courts have delivered a strong warning to self-styled spiritual leaders who prey on desperation, convicting a self-acclaimed prophet and a prominent native doctor in two separate cases that authorities say exposed how fraudulent religious and traditional claims are being used to fleece vulnerable citizens of millions of naira.
Within days of each other, courts in Enugu and Anambra handed down convictions against the two men, underscoring an increasingly aggressive crackdown by anti-graft and law enforcement agencies on individuals accused of exploiting faith, superstition and the promise of supernatural intervention for financial gain.
In Enugu, Justice H.O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court convicted self-acclaimed prophet Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and stealing brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the anti-graft agency, Ajuluchukwucheya fraudulently obtained about ₦136.4 million from members of his ministry between 2023 and February 2025 by falsely claiming he had won ₦30 billion in a Baba Ijebu lottery and inviting followers to invest in a scheme that promised extraordinary financial returns.
Investigators said the cleric used his religious influence to convince worshippers that participating in the scheme would bring prosperity and supernatural breakthroughs.
The fraud allegedly extended beyond investment promises.
One petitioner, Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane, told investigators that the self-acclaimed prophet collected ₦6.7 million from her after claiming he possessed the spiritual power to raise her late husband from the dead while also promising lucrative investment returns.
Another victim, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that he paid ₦6.23 million after being assured that the cleric could spiritually compel his brother, who had lived overseas since 1997, to return to Nigeria.
As investigations widened, more complainants reportedly emerged with similar allegations.
The EFCC also said investigators recovered evidence that the convict sold so-called spiritual products—including “miracle stickers,” “spiritual dragon,” and “Holy Ghost Thunder”—while promising miraculous solutions to members of his congregation.
Following his guilty plea, Justice Eya sentenced him to one year imprisonment with the option of a ₦500,000 fine.
The court further ordered the forfeiture of his landed property in Enugu to the Federal Government, directing that it be sold and the proceeds used to compensate victims.
Native Doctor Gets Maximum Sentence
In neighbouring Anambra State, another court delivered what officials described as one of the toughest sentences yet under the state’s Homeland Security Law.
An Awka High Court sentenced popular native doctor Onyebuchi Okocha, widely known as Onyeze Jesus, to six years imprisonment and imposed a ₦20 million fine after finding him guilty of fraudulent spiritual practices.
Confirming the judgment, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, said the conviction formed part of the state government’s broader campaign against individuals accused of deceiving members of the public through claims of supernatural wealth creation and preparing charms allegedly intended to facilitate criminal activities.
According to the commissioner, the prosecution was brought under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, enacted to combat criminality linked to deceptive spiritual practices, ritual-related offences and fraudulent claims of mystical powers.
Mefor noted that Onyeze Jesus had been arraigned alongside other well-known spiritualists, including Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, and Ekene Igbonekwu, also called Eke Hit, during the state’s ongoing crackdown.
While Akwa Okuko earlier entered a plea bargain and received a concurrent two-year prison sentence, Onyeze Jesus elected to stand trial and was handed the maximum punishment prescribed by the law.
The court also ordered that he be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre to commence serving his sentence.
A Wider Campaign
Authorities say the convictions reflect a broader effort to dismantle fraudulent enterprises operating under the guise of religion and traditional spirituality.
The EFCC described the Enugu conviction as part of its continuing campaign against financial crimes and its commitment to securing restitution for victims of fraud.
Similarly, the Anambra State Government insisted that its enforcement campaign is not directed at legitimate religious or traditional worship but at individuals who exploit spiritual beliefs to promote fraud, internet crime, kidnapping, ritual killings and other criminal activities.
For years, law enforcement agencies have warned that fraudulent spiritual claims often flourish during periods of economic hardship, when desperate victims become more susceptible to promises of miraculous wealth, instant solutions and supernatural intervention.
The latest convictions suggest Nigerian courts are increasingly willing to impose criminal sanctions on those found to have converted faith, hope and traditional beliefs into profitable instruments of deception.
