High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned till September next 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.