KEY POINTS

• Prophet Fufeyin refutes using the agency name NAFDAC to cheat the public.
• The church responds by calling the allegations fabricated, with false and doctored documents.
• The ministry continues to defend the spiritual activities as being within the framework of Nigerian law.

Senior Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry has firmly denied allegations that his church used the name of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to deceive Nigerians.

These claims emerged after NAFDAC warned the public about the church’s spiritual products, stating that they might be misleading.

In response, the church’s media department, led by spokesperson Sophia Iloyd, called the accusations “false and misleading.”

The church highlighted its compliance with Nigerian laws, including NAFDAC’s regulations. They reiterated that Prophet Fufeyin’s ministry follows legal practices.

Church defends religious freedom

The ministry referred to Sections 38 and 39 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantee the right to freedom of religion and belief.

Acording to a report by Punch, the church clarified that using items like “miracle water” is part of its religious practice. These items, according to them, symbolize their faith and are not meant to deceive.

“We are Christians, and we use these items based on our beliefs and guidance from the Bible. They are not fake products. Most importantly, we have never misused NAFDAC’s name,” the church said.

The ministry emphasized that it has never sold any products falsely claiming to be approved by NAFDAC. They continue to operate transparently and in line with the law.

Legal battle and NAFDAC investigation

The controversy escalated when Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Verydarkblackman, filed a petition against the ministry.

The church acknowledged receiving a letter from NAFDAC on August 27, 2024, which requested Prophet Fufeyin to clarify his church’s use of spiritual items.

However, the ministry expressed frustration with the short deadline given. “We had less than 12 hours to respond, but we replied through the appropriate channels,” the church noted.

The church also questioned the authenticity of the evidence presented against them. They accused Otse of forging receipts to falsely link the church to illegal sales.

According to the ministry, these receipts did not match those issued by their accounting department, showing discrepancies in dates and details.

“We have informed NAFDAC that the receipts are under police investigation, but NAFDAC has not responded yet,” the church added.