Founder of Christ MercyLand Ministry, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin on Sunday reacted to the criminal investigation being carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC over miracle soap and other items he was accused of selling to unsuspecting members of the public with the claim that the products were registered and approved by NAFDAC.

Prophet Jeremiah said he never used the name of NAFDAC to deceive any member of the public. Adding that he was given less the 12 hours to appear before the NAFDAC office in Asaba and as a result of the short notice, he wrote to the regulatory agency twice to make his position known to them on the issues.

According to Vangaurd newspaper, Prophet Fufeyin spoke through his church’s media outfit called MercyLand Television Deliverance Ministry, which issued a statement signed by Sophia Iloyd, faulting a media report by one of the national dailies online, with caption ‘Nafdac Investigating Pastor Jeremiah Miracle Water, Soap-DG’, pointing out that the publication was false.

According to the statement, Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministry is a law abiding Christian Church and recognize the extant laws of the land and even the NAFDAC Act in this regard, and as a Christian Association, “We are guided by Section 39 and 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that guarantees all Christians and our Church the Right to freedom of religion without interference whatsoever in this regard.

“It is sequel to that, as a church we have been operating and guided by the tenets of our faith and biblical injunctions in the holy bible in this regard. We have been using certain spiritual items in expression of our religious beliefs.

The statement also asserted that the newspaper via online publication “in the course of their story also stated and alleged that NAFDAC wishes to alert the general public on the activities of the church and the church uses NAFDAC name to deceive unsuspecting public. We wish to state that at no point our Church has ever deceived or dishonestly deceive any members of the general public, all the church has done in the entirety of this issue is the church right to expression of religion through the use of spiritual items, the church has never even produce or sell to members of the public, consumable items in this regard.

“We also wish to state that Senior Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin of Christ MercyLand Ministry has never used the NAFDAC name as an agency to deceive innocent members of the public.”

However, as part of putting the records straight as rebuttal of the online news publication, the statement pointed, “We wish to state that Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry was fully aware that the only pending petition against our Church is the one by Mr Martins Vincent Otse (alias Verydarkblackman) who the Church has since sued before the FCT high court on sundry allegations and matters.

“However the church was in receipt of a letter dated the 27th August 2024 from NAFDAC office extending an invitation to the Spiritual head of the church on the church miracle and healing spiritual item by the NAFDAC Asaba Office with the full designation as referenced in this letter.

“It quite unfortunate that as a law abiding organization, we did officially as an organization wrote to NAFDAC Headquarters office, Abuja on the short less than 12 hour time frame given to us to appear and by an official letter communicated our position in this matter to NAFDAC and then also sent another subsequent letter to NAFDAC.

“We also bring to the fore and knowledge of NAFDAC that the supposed nominal complainant to NAFDAC Asaba office actually forged the Church’s receipts in other to close himself with the right to bring a complaint before the NAFDAC office in this regard.

“We also wish to state that presently there is an ongoing police investigation of certain receipts that has indicted the nominal complainants to NAFDAC office, which same receipts is presumed to have been forged and used falsely in procuring the now investigated spiritual items by NAFDAC office.

“Moreso it should be noted that the alleged spiritual items sales receipts of the nominal complainants to NAFDAC in which he purportedly alleged to have used in evidencing a case in NAFDAC office, a look at same reveal that the position of the spiritual items receipt number are the same but different in other particulars with that normally issued by the church accounting office in the sense that vizaviz :

That the nominal complainants receipts are different from the position in the actual receipt booklet and receipts in the custody of the church, the dates on the receipt are clearly and obviously altered different from church client official receipts.

All these issues and narratives as stated above, the church wrote to the NAFDAC office and we clearly wish to state that NAFDAC till today never wrote to the church or gave feedback on these issues to the church or our legal Representative”, the Church media stated.

We had reported that the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC on Sunday said it has began investigation into alleged act of criminality against Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, CMDM over soap and other miracle products sold to unsuspecting members of the public, claiming the products were registered and approved by NAFDAC.

NAFDAC in a statement said the church is currently not coorporating with them in the course of their investigation. According to the regulatory body, the church has failed to honour their invitation but decided to issue a legal document claiming they got the NAFDAC approval indirectly from another business the Church is into partnership with.

NAFDAC in the statement warned the general public to stop buying the products, saying, it never registered the products.

The products listed include miracle and healing water, River Jordan water, and the miracle water from the pool of Bethsaida.

This was contained in a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Olusayo Akintola, in Abuja on Sunday.

According to Akintola, Omoto is operating with Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5, Effurun, Sapele Road, Delta State.

He said that the suspect was selling miracle water, miracle soap, and other unregistered products to unsuspected Nigerians, claiming that they were all NAFDAC approved.

He said that NAFDAC got the hint through a series of petitions from concerned citizens about Omoto.

He said that the miracle water and soap were advertised to have healing capacity and NAFDAC certification.

“The suspect showcased the use of the miracle water and miracle soap on social media.

“He claimed that they had the capacity to heal barrenness and that women who used both products would be pregnant with twins.

“He openly told his congregation that the soap is NAFDAC registered, which attracted the public to begin to make efforts to verify the claim,” he said.

Akintola said that petitioners also submitted some of the products from the church to NAFDAC for verification.

He listed the products to include miracle and healing water, River Jordan water, and the miracle water from the pool of Bethsaida.

Others are a new beginning Mount Camel miracle water, water of life miracle water from the pool of Bethsaida and father smelled perfume.

He said that upon receipt of the petitions, NAFDAC, through its Director of Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS), contacted the Delta State Coordinator to verify the existence of the church.

“The state coordinator was also directed to take necessary regulatory action on the production facility in the church where the miracle water and other products were produced.

“He covertly bought the miracle water (25cl) for 3000 naira from the church and took pictures of other products,” he said.

The NAFDAC media consultant said that on visiting the church, subsequently, the team met the Head of Service (HOS), Ogunleye Fufeyin, and the Chief Security Officer (CSO).

He said that officials of the church denied producing miracle and healing water or soap, even with the evidence of the receipt of purchase.

“On August 27, a team of investigators and enforcement team of NAFDAC, along with a federal task force on counterfeit and unwholesome foods, visited the church to commence an investigation.

“Officials of the church did not cooperate with the team, which prompted the issuing of a letter of invitation for them to report at the NAFDAC office in Asaba for further investigation, but it was not honoured.

“Instead of honouring the invitation, they submitted a legal document at NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja on August 28,” he said.

Akintola said that a document made available to NAFDAC on September 3, 2024, claimed that the church entered a production agreement with one Globod Table Water without the knowledge of NAFDAC.

He said that the act was illegal according to the extant rules and regulations on commercial production.

He said that the NAFDAC investigation and enforcement team had sealed Globod Table Water.

He said that the factory was sealed for aiding and abetting the production, sale, and advertisement of unregistered and unwholesome miracle water with a fake NAFDAC registration number.

“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public that none of these products being advertised and sold are registered with NAFDAC.

“The public is also advised to stop patronising any of these products. NAFDAC is a scientific organisation that is guided by verifiable facts before registering any product.

“In the meantime, we will continue with our investigation into the activities of this faith organisation,” he said.

We had in the month of August reported that High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned till September this month for Martins Vincent Otse aka VeryDarkMan who identified himself as Online Police and  Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, CMDM to begin legal argument over a soap said to be approved by National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC which allegedly has the efficacy to cure peoples’ suffering.

On June 28, 2024, Prophet Jeremiah in a video comment on his verified Instagram page discussed the importance of a soap he described as a miracle soap. The prophet spoke in a logical manner while advertising the soap and as at August 20, 2024 when we downloaded the video, some parts of the video has poor sound quality, preventing us from getting some other statements he made in the video.

Some parts the video has good sound quality, Prophet Jeremiah talked about the importance of the soap and mentioned suffering, failure, disappointment and how the soap can be used to washed off body odour with prayers to God Almighty from him.

On July 17, 2024, VeryDarkMan in a video commentary on his verified Instagram page, played a video from his mobile phone, inwhich, Prophet Jeremiah said the Miracle soap has NAFDAC number, adding, he wondered why people are suffering.

According to the Prophet in the video,  the soap is manufactured by a company but he needs to pray for the soap to work its wonders with the user having faith.

VeryDarkMan reacted and some parts of what he said reads thus: “NAFDAC, I will come to your office later to drop a petition, you must tell us the ingredients they use in making soap that cures suffering since he is saying you approved it. As a pastor that claimed God called him, you are selling powers that God gave you for free to your members? NAFDAC prepare ooo, since (you all wnat) to be part of yeye things.

VeryDarkMan on August 9, 2024 posted a video and said: “Last one before we go court. Person sue me 1 billion (who) na say make I no gather evidence, na so (who) na dey do for here. Anything you buy you no need faith. If I buy panadol, do I need faith for it to cure headache? So why I go need faith for miracle water when I use money buy? Upon all e no get NAFDAC.

In another video post, VeryDarkMan said: “So, based on court, I can’t talk about pastor Jeremiah anymore. And now to NAFDAC, I am giving you guys 2 days to put up a disclaimer on this whole soap saga or else we will all swim inside the potorpotor of disgrace.  NAFDAC do the needful. It is our country. We should all seek what is good for our people.

Now all eyes on NAFDAC, let’s see if they are truly doing their jobs to protect citizens from unregistered products that might be harmful to Nigerians or maybe it is by connection”.

Latest development, the founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry (CMDM), Prophet Jeremiah announced that his spiritual products, including ‘Pool of Bethesda water’ and ‘Red Sea water,’ will not be sold anymore.

The Prophet cancelled the sales of the products after weeks of public scrutiny and pressure from social media user, VeryDarkMan who continued to do videos of buying the products and testing the products on people who have health challenges. In numbers of videos, he  questioned the legality and regulatory approval of selling the spiritual products which include miracle water, perfume, spiritual shirt, soap, mustard seed and one-shot oil.

VeryDarkMan in some of the videos he posted after he was served a lawsuit of one billion naira, went an extra step of testing the products on a large group of disabled individuals, but no results were observed. In the Prophet’s defence on Sunday, he stated that the products would not be effective unless supported by a genuine love for him, according to Premium Times.

During the church’s August Break Program 2024 titled “Break the Limit”on (Day 1), the Prophet reversed his stance, stating that anyone selling his spiritual products would be cursed.

He said: “I want to make it clear to you all tonight. The spiritual items are not for sale. Anybody out there selling these spiritual items to you, I will lay a curse on them because it’s not for sale’’.

Adding, users must register at CMDM to receive the spiritual items for free, which will be prayed over, stressing that proper guidance will be put in place to prevent chaos.

“You (users) have to go and register on the mountain (CMDM), then they (those in charge of the products) will give it to you for free. They will pray on it on the mountain, and then I (Fufeyin), your prophet, will tell you how to use it. You will be surprised because you are not here to test; you already believe. Don’t test it; my prayer is to believe. Don’t test why we register because we want to control the crowd.

“Something that has no instructions or guidance is useless. We can tell everybody to rush and take the spiritual items, but no, a stampede will occur. That’s why we have to guide you people to receive the blessings, and anybody out there selling them will receive a curse from me.”

In response, VeryDarkMan said: “I went on his page, and now, he says he is giving it for free. Papa (Prophet Fufeyin), even if you provide it for free, you still have to have a NAFDAC number, which you must provide.

VeryDarkMan while speaking, compared the sale of the products to ValueJet, a private Nigerian airline, highlighting that despite having fewer passengers than Fufeyin’s congregation, ValueJet ensures their “free” water is appropriately regulated.

He said: “Yesterday when I came from Abuja to Lagos, I used ValueJet. They don’t sell products. They only give water to people inside the plane, and ValueJet Water still has a NAFDAC number. Let alone you (Fufeyin), who has plenty of people sitting in your church. You must have a NAFDAC number before you put out anything people take into their bodies or use on their skin. It’s a must.”

Although the prophet announced removing certain products from his church’s offerings, VeryDarkMan claims some questionable items are still on the website.

He said, “You (Fufeyin) said you don’t sell anything anymore, but what is this ‘Cash Flow ATM Card’? EFCC should take up this case. Is it going to put cash in your account without you working? Is it that when you buy this ATM card, you slot it in, and it starts dispensing cash? I see this as fraud.”

VeryDarkMan had also criticised the sales of the ‘I Must Carry My Samuel Apple,’ priced at $12 (approximately ₦20,000). He questioned the rationale behind such exorbitant prices for what is marketed as a spiritually-enhanced fruit. “Is it that when you eat this apple, you get pregnant and start having Samuels? No matter how spiritual this is, it’s too much for an apple.”

The self acclaimed Online Police said that, the handkerchiefs priced at $2 (₦3,200) are still available, raising further concerns about monetisation within the church. Adding that he would file a case with the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC). “Every product you produce must have a NAFDAC number. It’s not about a miracle or no miracle. I’ll write a letter to the NPF-NCCC.”

Primium Times stated that the “controversy is not new for Prophet Fufeyin, who has been selling and advertising faith-based products like the ‘Red Sea Water’ since 2019.

Checks on the church’s website show that the spiritual products were also sold to people in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. His spiritual items have long been promoted as possessing “miraculous powers,” but the recent backlash, spearheaded by VDM, intensified scrutiny”.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the lawsuit between the social media user, VeryDarkMan and Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin of the Deliverance Mercy Land International Ministry, Warri, Delta State.

TVC news, in a report on Saturday, said Justice Nwosu Iheme, who presided over the case, adjourned it to 6 September for a hearing.

The adjournment followed Mr Fufeyin’s counsel, Ihensekhien Samuel, who prayed the court for an adjournment, saying he was just served with the defendant’s counterclaim

It was gathered that Justice Iheme further ordered VeryDarkMan and Mr Fufeyin to maintain the status quo. The status quo injunction was issued to preserve the current state of affairs while the case progresses.

TVC reported that Justice Iheme restrained VeryDarkMan from derogatory remarks about Mr Fufeyin until the latter’s injunction motion was heard.

Mr Fufeyin requested a court order compelling VeryDarkMan to retract the libellous publications of 17 July and any other defamatory content.

Prophet Jeremiah sought a court order mandating VeryDarkMan to publish an unconditional apology in at least three national newspapers within seven days of the judgment.

VeryDarkMan and Prophet Jeremiah’s attorneys expressed their views on the court’s legal determination.

The Prophet lawyer said: “Even when there was a first order for status quo, he kept coming before the social media just to harass, to defame continuously and to drag continuously and that the court ordered for status quo and restated it. So the defendant is running the risk of contempt proceedings and a committal to prison.”

VeryDarkMan attorney, Ademola Adedokun, said: “Martins Vincent Otse, who is counterclaiming ₦2.2 billion in damages for breach of contract and deceit, also has a pending interlocutory application to also stop the Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin and his church, Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministry, from selling any regulated products without filing the proof of certification or registration of such products.”

On Sunday,  a video statement signed by Sophia Lloyd and posted on the Prophet Instagram page, said that, the church’s legal team had been instructed to take action against VeryDarkMan for false allegation.

According to the statement, VeryDarkMan claimed in a recent video that the church had removed all approved spiritual items from its official website.

The church dismissed these allegations as unfounded lies and cheap propaganda, emphasising that the video was a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of the General Overseer and the church as a whole.

The statement read: “The management of Mercy Television has herein by this press statement refuting claims made by an online critic, Mr Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, in one of his recent video publications, Otse alleged that the church, under the leadership of Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin had removed all approved spiritual items from its official website. In a strong rebuttal, the management of Mercy Television labelled Otse’s claims as “unfounded lies” and “cheap propaganda.”

Church stated further that the video publication was a deliberate attempt to defame their General Overseer and tarnish the church’s reputation. The church clarified that Otseis is not an official representative of Mercy Television or the church and has no authority to speak or act on their behalf.

“The management also reminded the public that all official information about the church will be communicated solely through its verified channels and urged the public to exercise caution and discernment when engaging with any further content from Otse. Mercy Television distanced itself from any liability or responsibility for Otse’’s actions, statements, or publications, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and the truth.”

VeryDarkMan had vowed to bring 800 deaf, 700 blind, and 36 infertile women to court to challenge the prophet to demonstrate the efficacy of his miracle products publicly. VeryDarkMan demanded the demonstration take place in front of a judge.

The social media popular user pursued his challenge by purchasing Prophet Fufeyin’s miracle products.

He experimented with the products at an undisclosed disability home in Abuja, housing approximately 1,500 residents. VeryDarkMan documented the process in a video, showing individuals with disabilities using the products without apparent miraculous effects.

However, Mr Fufeyin addressed his congregation during a live Sunday service and said that his spiritual products might not work for everyone except those who love him.