Eight Anambra pastors remanded over fake miracles

A High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, on Friday remanded eight pastors in a correctional centre after they were arraigned over alleged violations of the state’s Homeland Security Law, 2025, including hiring paid actors to stage “fake” miracles.

The defendants are Pastors Ndubisi Nnachukwu of Omega Dominion Ministry; Ekeleme Ugochukwu of Cloud of Glory Prophetic Ministry; Bishop Emeka Nwamkpa of Chapel of Faith Ministry; Peter Chukwu of Messiah Adoration Ministry; Chinedu Egwuonwu of Citadel of Grace Ministry.

Others are Ebele Nnachukwu of Jehovah the Mighty Than All Ministry; Miracle Iruoma of City of Power Ministry; and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama of Land of Testimony Adoration Ministry.

The pastors were brought before the court by operatives of the state security outfit, Agunechemba, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Ken Emeakayi.

In charge sheet numbers A/65C/26, A/55C/26, A/63C/26, A/64C/26, A/57C/26, A/60C/26, A/58C/26 and A/61C/26, the defendants were accused of wielding fake supernatural powers, using a religious place of worship for the commission of a crime contrary to Sections 18(3) and 19(1) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025, and obtaining by false pretence contrary to Section 3(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, LFN 2006.

Some of the pastors, who pleaded not guilty, were arraigned before Justice Jude Obiorah alongside “agents” they allegedly used to procure persons who were paid to pretend they had been healed or delivered.

According to the charges, the pastors obtained rewards from members of the public through the fake miracles they allegedly performed.

The proof of evidence filed alongside the charges listed video-recorded confessions of the pastors as part of the evidence, with a flash drive attached, indicating that they confessed to the offences.

After listening to all parties, Justice Obiorah ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter until June 15, 2026, for further hearing and motion for bail.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the proceedings, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, who led the prosecution, said the confessional statements of the pastors formed part of the evidence frontloaded by the state.

“The state intends to rely on these evidences. The charges are part of the efforts of the administration of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to nip in the bud, the practice of exploiting vulnerable members of the public through deception of staged miracles, just as the state is doing in its crackdown on fraudulent native doctors,” Nweke said.

The arraignment comes amid the state government’s ongoing crackdown on individuals it describes as fake pastors, native doctors and spiritualists allegedly involved in activities that promote criminality.