The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, also known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over a ₦136.4 million fraud involving members of his ministry.
Justice H.O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, convicted Ajuluchukwucheya after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the offences took place between 2023 and February 2025, during which the defendant allegedly defrauded unsuspecting members of his church by claiming he had won ₦30 billion in the Baba Ijebu lottery. He also persuaded victims to invest in a scheme, promising returns based on the size of their investments.
The anti-graft agency said the claims were false and were used to obtain a total of ₦136,436,000 from victims.
Following his guilty plea, EFCC prosecutor, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Justice Eya sentenced Ajuluchukwucheya to one year’s 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 dated 25 July 1989 and registered in the Enugu Land Registry, to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The property is to be sold, with the proceeds used to compensate victims of the fraud.
According to the EFCC, investigations began after a petition was submitted by Mrs Ngene Nkiruka Jane. She alleged that the self-styled prophet convinced her he had the spiritual power to resurrect her late husband and persuaded her to pay ₦6.7 million for the purported resurrection and participation in an investment scheme that promised financial returns.
Another complainant, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that Ajuluchukwucheya collected ₦6,231,400 after claiming he could spiritually influence his brother, who had been living abroad since 1997, to return to Nigeria.
The EFCC said its investigation attracted several more complaints from members of the convict’s ministry, all alleging they had been defrauded.
Investigators also discovered that Ajuluchukwucheya allegedly sold so-called prosperity items to followers, including “miracle stickers”, “spiritual dragons” and “Holy Ghost Thunder”, claiming the products would bring spiritual and financial breakthroughs.
The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to investigating and prosecuting fraudsters who exploit members of the public through deceptive investment schemes and false religious claims.
