Sahara Reporters has exposed yet another controversial scandal involving self-acclaimed prophet, Ebuka Obi of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach. The media outlet, via its official X handle, revealed that Obi orchestrated a staged miracle, using a woman who falsely testified to purchasing a N500 million mansion in Lagos after sowing seeds in his ministry.
In a now-viral video, the woman—who initially claimed to have transitioned from running a modest shop with N300,000 worth of goods to acquiring a luxurious mansion in Lekki—was interrogated and admitted that her testimony was entirely staged.
During her testimony in church, she passionately declared:
“Zion is the best, this is the last bus stop! I have my evidence here!”
Pastor Ebuka Obi, amplifying the spectacle, then prophesied:
“This is a mansion, I prophesy! Are you claiming this? Stand up and claim it! Receive your favor. Look at this mansion, built by a young lady. So, what are you waiting for?”
However, Sahara Reporters revealed that the testimony was nothing but an elaborate scheme designed to deceive church members and Nigerians into sowing money into the ministry. The deception crumbled when the real owner of the mansion exposed the fraud and had the woman arrested for falsely claiming ownership of his property.
This isn’t the first time Prophet Ebuka Obi has been linked to a fake miracle. In 2023, he allegedly staged a healing miracle involving veteran Nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu. Obi had claimed to have miraculously healed the ailing actor, who later passed away on March 2, 2024, after battling a severe illness that led to multiple surgeries and amputation.
Critics of Obi’s ministry have long accused him of exploiting gullible followers for financial gain. One outspoken critic, blogger Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, better known as Ijele Speaks II, publicly called out Obi, branding him a fraud and demanding his arrest for turning a religious institution into a business empire.
In a viral post, Ijele wrote:
“Dear @LagosPoliceNG cc @BenHundeyin and our Ministry of Justice, have we abolished Section 419 of our criminal code? For how long is this thief, Ebuka Obi, going to be allowed to fool people? Is he above the law?”
He further accused religious figures like Obi of influencing elections through their churches, which often serve as polling units. According to Ijele, politicians patronize these ministries in exchange for electoral manipulation and endorsement.
Rather than investigating Obi, Nigerian authorities turned their focus on his critic. In March 2024, the Nigeria Police Force detained Ijele in Abuja over allegations of criminal intimidation, threat to life, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying against the pastor.
A petition obtained by Sahara Reporters read:
“This office is investigating an alleged case of criminal intimidation, threat to life, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, in which your name featured prominently…”
The charges, reportedly based on Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and the Criminal Code Act, led to Ijele’s arrest and subsequent legal battle. However, in June 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos granted him bail under the ruling of Justice Akintayo Aluko.
The latest revelation surrounding Obi raises deeper concerns about the exploitation of religious faith in Nigeria. With a growing number of self-proclaimed prophets staging miracles to attract wealth and followers, critics argue that authorities should focus on curbing religious fraud rather than silencing whistleblowers.
As more Nigerians demand accountability, the question remains: Will Prophet Ebuka Obi face justice, or will his influence continue to shield him from the law?
Watch the video here:
PIONEER NEWS 