Pastor Jailed for Defrauding Church Members of ?136.4 Million Through Fake Miracles and Investment Scheme

An Enugu State High Court has convicted and sentenced a pastor, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, after he pleaded guilty to defrauding members of his church of ?136.4 million through false miracle claims and a fraudulent investment scheme.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted the convict on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

According to the charge, Ajuluchukwucheya fraudulently obtained ?136,436,000 from church members between 2023 and February 2025 by falsely claiming he had won ?30 billion in the Baba Ijebu lottery. He allegedly convinced victims to invest in a scheme with the promise of receiving substantial returns, despite knowing the claims were false.

The offence contravened the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

When the charges were read in court, the defendant pleaded guilty. Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Justice Eya subsequently sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment with an option of a ?500,000 fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict's landed property, covered by a Customary Certificate of Occupancy registered in Enugu, to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The property is to be sold, with the proceeds used to compensate victims of the fraud.

The case originated from a petition filed by Mrs. Ngene Nkiruka Jane, who alleged that the pastor presented himself as a genuine man of God and convinced her that he possessed the spiritual power to resurrect her late husband. She claimed she paid ?6.7 million for the supposed resurrection and participation in the fraudulent investment scheme.

Another victim, Okey Uwakwe, told investigators that the pastor collected ?6,231,400 after promising to perform spiritual work that would compel his brother, who had lived abroad since 1997, to return to Nigeria.

The EFCC said that during investigations, several members of the pastor's ministry came forward with similar complaints, alleging they had also been deceived.

Investigators further discovered that the convict's method involved persuading followers to purchase so-called prosperity items, including "miracle stickers," "spiritual dragon," "Holy Ghost Thunder," and other products, while promising them wealth, breakthroughs, and supernatural interventions.