Fake miracles workers
Fake miracles, bogus grants: How clerics allegedly fleece Nigerians of millions
ABUJA/LAGOS — Nigerians seeking solutions to financial difficulties, health challenges, family problems and other personal troubles are increasingly falling victim to alleged religious scams, with some self-styled clerics accused of collecting millions of naira in exchange for miracle products, spiritual interventions, fake investments, grants and promises of overseas travel.
Accounts documented in an investigation by The PUNCH showed how some worshippers and religious followers allegedly surrendered substantial portions of their savings to clerics who promised divine breakthroughs, protection, healing or financial prosperity.
The cases cut across both Christian and Muslim religious settings, with law enforcement agencies prosecuting or investigating some of the alleged schemes.
One of the victims, identified as Oluremi Sokoya, a pseudonym, said she was drawn into the activities of a Pentecostal church in Ikorodu, Lagos, after joining in January 2022.
The 28-year-old entrepreneur said she became a member of the church and later worked on the pastor’s protocol team. According to her account, the pastor began paying particular attention to her because of her regular tithes and offerings.
She alleged that the cleric subsequently encouraged her to contribute to church projects and repeatedly used testimonies about people who supposedly received blessings after making “sacrificial” donations.
Sokoya claimed that the pastor eventually gained significant control over her finances, including allegedly taking her debit card to purchase items for himself and members of his family.
She estimated that she spent almost N500,000 on the pastor within a few months, while also buying groceries, clothing and shoes for him and his family.
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She further alleged that the cleric sexually harassed her on several occasions, including an incident in which she said he attempted to touch her inappropriately inside his office.
The matter was reportedly reported to the police in May 2023, while about N400,000 was later refunded to her in instalments.
Sokoya said the experience eventually made her stop attending the church.
Another couple, identified as Sam and Mary Udofia, recounted an experience dating back to 2006, when they were introduced to a self-styled prophet during a period they described as a spiritual crisis.
The Ibadan-based couple alleged that the prophet gradually became deeply involved in their family affairs, dictating who they could associate with, where they could go and whom they should regard as enemies.
Sam said the cleric repeatedly collected money from the family while allegedly using fear and claims of spiritual attacks to maintain influence over them.
He said his doubts intensified in 2009 when he became seriously ill and the prophet did not visit him, despite being informed of his condition.
According to him, his wife eventually took him to another church, where prayers were offered without payment and he recovered.
The couple later became suspicious after learning that the prophet had built a house despite having no known conventional employment.
Mary said the family could not accurately calculate how much money they had given the cleric over the years.
She said they remained tenants for years while continuing to give money to the prophet, who allegedly claimed that people around them were spiritual agents.
The couple eventually stopped seeking spiritual solutions from self-styled prophets and focused on rebuilding their lives.
Beyond individual testimonies, the cases point to a wider pattern in which religious fraud allegedly takes several forms, including fake investment opportunities, non-existent grants, visa promises, miracle products and compulsory or heavily pressured “seed” offerings.
Some self-styled religious leaders allegedly promote fake real estate, forex and business ventures, asking followers to invest their savings with promises of extraordinary returns.
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Others reportedly claim to operate international foundations or grant programmes, collecting registration or processing fees from desperate applicants.
There are also alleged visa and travel scams, in which clerics claim to have received divine revelations that particular worshippers will relocate abroad, before demanding money for supposedly guaranteed foreign visas.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has prosecuted several cases involving religious figures.
In 2023, EFCC arrested Apostle Theophilus Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith on the Rock Ministry International, over an alleged N1.3bn fake grant scheme.
The commission alleged that Ebonyi demanded $1,300 from victims to access a supposed $20bn grant from the United States-based Ford Foundation.
The EFCC said the Ford Foundation had no relationship or grant arrangement with Ebonyi or his organisation and had publicly disclaimed any connection with them.
The commission also alleged that properties linked to Ebonyi were acquired from the proceeds of the scheme.
In April 2026, the Federal High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, ordered the final forfeiture of several landed properties linked to him to the Federal Government after the EFCC established them as proceeds of crime.
Another case involved Enugu-based self-styled prophet Godwin Cheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko.
A woman, Jane Ngene, reportedly petitioned the EFCC, alleging that Cheya convinced her that he could raise her late husband from the dead.
She alleged that she paid N6.7m in connection with the purported resurrection and an investment scheme promoted by the ministry.
Another petitioner, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that the cleric promised to use spiritual means to influence his brother, who had lived outside Nigeria since 1997, to return home.
Uwakwe reportedly paid N6.2m for the alleged spiritual intervention.
Following petitions from several individuals, the EFCC investigated Cheya’s activities and found allegations involving the sale of various spiritual and material products.
Among the products allegedly sold to followers were “miracle stickers”, purportedly for financial breakthroughs, “spiritual dragons” for spiritual battles and “Holy Ghost thunder” for protection.
In July, the EFCC secured Cheya’s conviction before the Enugu State High Court.
He pleaded guilty to charges that included obtaining N136m from church members under the false claim that he had won N30bn in the Baba Ijebu lottery.
He had allegedly promised investors dividends based on the amount they contributed to the scheme.
Justice H. O. Eya sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of a N500,000 fine.
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The court also ordered the forfeiture of his landed property to the Federal Government through the EFCC, directing that proceeds from its sale be used to compensate victims.
The alleged scams are not limited to Christian clerics.
In June last year, the Nigeria Police Force arraigned two self-styled Islamic clerics, Saheed Aremu and Tolani Osuolale, over an alleged N280m fraud involving a medical doctor.
The police alleged that the defendants convinced the victim that his money needed spiritual fortification before he could use it for a property investment.
They allegedly collected $200,000, said to be about N270m at the time, in three instalments.
The defendants faced charges including advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretences, impersonation, conspiracy and stealing.
In another case, an Islamic cleric, Olaide Ajala, was charged before an Ibadan magistrates’ court over alleged N7.6m fraud.
The prosecution alleged that Ajala collected N7m from a complainant under the pretence of conducting prayers over his business problems.
Ajala pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of N1m with two sureties.
The growing number of cases has also attracted concern from the EFCC leadership.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed in April that several religious leaders were in the commission’s custody over alleged fraudulent activities.
He stressed that corruption and financial crimes were not restricted to any particular religion, noting that both Christian and Muslim religious institutions could be vulnerable to abuse.
Olukoyede also revealed that the EFCC had previously investigated Pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International, over suspected money laundering after intelligence reports raised questions about substantial inflows into his accounts.
He said the investigation lasted six months and involved tracing foreign transactions from countries including the United States, Colombia, Sri Lanka and Togo.
However, Olukoyede said investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing against Eze.
He has also previously warned that some religious organisations could face serious accountability questions over the source and use of their funds.
The issue has prompted condemnation from religious leaders who argue that fraudulent individuals should not be allowed to use Christianity or Islam as cover for exploiting vulnerable people.
Pastor Daniel Okunoye of Multiply Christian Network described religious financial exploitation as an expression of greed and excessive love of money.
He said Christian leaders were expected to maintain high moral standards and urged worshippers to be discerning, particularly when clerics begin attaching monetary demands to miracles or divine blessings.
Muslim cleric Ismaila Bello also condemned Islamic leaders who allegedly exploit their positions of trust to obtain money through deception.
He argued that Islam does not permit people to take another person’s property through fraud or false pretences and said clerics demanding excessive amounts for supposed spiritual interventions were not representing the teachings of Islam.
For Professor Jacob Ayantayo, a University of Ibadan academic who specialises in the sociology and ethics of religion, the problem is partly driven by religious vulnerability, limited theological understanding, greed, impatience and economic hardship.
He argued that many Nigerians, including educated people, can be vulnerable to manipulation when they believe religious figures possess special access to spiritual mysteries.
Ayantayo also linked the phenomenon to the wider economic and social uncertainties facing Nigerians, saying the lack of confidence in the future encourages some people to seek instant solutions rather than pursue gradual economic progress.
He said the expectation of receiving sudden financial breakthroughs could make people susceptible to individuals promising “miracle” wealth.
The professor called for greater public education and stronger scrutiny of religious activities while urging the government to avoid politicising religion.
The cases underline the importance of distinguishing legitimate religious giving, worship and spiritual counselling from fraudulent financial schemes disguised as religious activities.
For victims, the consequences can extend beyond financial losses to broken families, emotional distress, loss of trust and, in some cases, withdrawal from religious communities.
Law enforcement authorities have continued to prosecute individuals accused of using religious influence to obtain money through false representations, but the persistence of such cases suggests that desperate Nigerians remain vulnerable to promises of instant wealth, healing, protection and supernatural intervention.
The growing concern, therefore, is not about legitimate religious practice but about individuals allegedly turning faith, fear and desperation into tools for financial exploitation.
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