A High Court in Enugu State has sentenced self-proclaimed prophet Godwin Ajuluchukwucheya to one year in prison after he pleaded guilty to defrauding members of his church of N136.4 million.
Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the convict admitted to deceiving church members between 2023 and February 2025 by falsely claiming he had won N30 billion in a lottery and asking them to contribute money with the promise of sharing in the proceeds.
The anti-graft agency said the offences violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
After the charges were read, Ajuluchukwucheya pleaded guilty.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel Rotimi Ajobiewe urged the court to convict and sentence him.
Justice H.O. Eya subsequently sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment with an option of a N500,000 fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of his landed property to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
According to the judgment, the property will be sold and the proceeds used to compensate victims of the fraud.
The EFCC said the investigation began after several victims petitioned the commission over what it described as fake miracle schemes operated by the convict.
According to the commission, investigators discovered that Ajuluchukwucheya persuaded church members to purchase so-called prosperity items, including “miracle stickers,” “spiritual dragons,” and “holy ghost thunder,” while promising miracles and financial breakthroughs.
One of the victims, Nkiruka Ngene, told investigators that the self-acclaimed prophet convinced her he had the power to raise her late husband from the dead.
She also invested in what was presented as a financial scheme promising returns to church members.
According to the EFCC, she paid a total of N6.7 million for the supposed resurrection and investment programme.
Another petitioner, Okey Uwakwe, alleged that Ajuluchukwucheya promised to spiritually influence the return of his brother, who had lived abroad since 1997.
The petitioner said he paid N6.2 million for the spiritual exercise.
He further claimed the convict convinced him he could help his sister-in-law conceive after more than 15 years of childlessness, leading him to pay an additional N3.2 million.
The EFCC said its investigation revealed that the scheme targeted church members through false spiritual claims and fraudulent promises of prosperity and miracles.
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