Fraud Pastor arrested By The Police

Members of a syndicate, which specialised
in confirming fake prophecies for pastors,
have been arrested by the police in Enugu
State.
Our correspondent gathered that the group
also faked healings for some men of God,
who contracted and paid them for their
services.
The suspected fraudsters were identified
as Obi Ejike from Ubaho Okija in Anambra
State; Mary Kuku from Ijebu Ode, Ogun
State; Joy Oluwakemi from Ojo, Lagos
State; Nwosu Chizoba from Umunze,
Anambra State; and Peter Uchechi from
Ebonyi State.
They were reportedly apprehended while
on their way to Abakiliki, Ebonyi State,
where they were contracted to stage
phoney miracles and healings for an
unnamed pastor in the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were
apprehended on Friday during an argument
while waiting to board a vehicle at Holy
Ghost Park, Enugu.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu
State Police Command, Mr. Ebere
Amaraizu, who confirmed the development
on Sunday, explained that the argument
among the fraudsters drew the attention of
some policemen within the premises of the
park, who interrogated them.
Amaraizu said two members of the
syndicate, Ejike and Oluwakemi, opened up
on the group’s activities.
Revelations made by the duo led to the
arrest of other members of the group at P
and T bus stop, Enugu, on Saturday, where
they had assembled to board a bus to
Abakiliki, the venue of a church service.
A member of the group, Uchechi, said they
were usually recruited in large numbers
and kept in a house from where they would
shuttle to confirm fake prophecies and
stage-manage miracles for pastors.
Uchechi said they were usually paid
through a coordinator, who acted as a
middleman between the syndicate and the
pastors.
Upon their arrival in the church, a man,
who works for the pastor, would instruct
the syndicate on the nature of the
assignment.
Uchechi explained that before the
scheduled church service, they would list
their names and the fake ailments they
had, which would be given to the pastor
while ministering to the congregation.
During the ‘prophetic hour’ session of the
service, members of the syndicate, who
were already known to the pastor, would
come out when people who had problems
were summoned to the altar.
Subsequently, members of the syndicate
would announce before the congregation
that they had received healing following
the pastor’s ministrations.
In other cases, according to Uchechi,
members of the syndicate would come out
to ‘confirm’ a prophecy, which would be
made by the pastor in the course of the
service, based on the information they
provided before the session.
She added that the members of their group
usually fell under the ‘influence’ of the
pastor’s anointing, during worship sessions.
“Some pastors use us to grow their
churches and ministries and we are paid
later through our coordinator, depending on
our roles,” Uchechi said.
Ejike, who explained that he worked with
the coordinator, admitted that he was in
charge of the Abakiliki job, which the group
was going for when they were
apprehended.
He said he decided to go into the fake
prophecy business after his business
collapsed in Lagos.
Ejike added that he was mostly involved in
the recruitment of personnel for various
assignments.
Another member of the group, Chizoba,
said she started the ‘business’ in Abuja,
after finding it difficult to fend for her
baby, who she had out of wedlock.
According to her, she eventually relocated
to Onitsha, Anambra State, to team up with
the syndicate.
Two other members of the syndicate,
Oluwakemi and Kuku, claimed to be
widows with four children each, adding that
hardship pushed them into the crime.
The police spokesperson, Amaraizu, said
investigations were ongoing.by chibabynaija1