-Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry deceiving Nigerians with fake spiritual healing products
-We never used fake NAFDAC registration numbers to deceive anyone – Prophet Fufeyin
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has described as fake all the faith-based products produced by Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry (CMDM).
The ministry, which has its headquarters at KM 5 Effurun, Sapele Road, Delta State, produces spiritual-based products such as “The Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida”; “Miracle and Healing Water”; “Father Smelled Perfume”; “River Jordan Water”; “A new beginning Mount Camel Miracle Water”; “Water of life”, and “A New Beginning Pool of Bethsaida Water” among other products that have been sold to thousands of members of the ministry and the general public.
In a statement signed by NAFDAC, the Director General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye described all the products as fake, bearing fake NAFDAC registration Numbers. She warned Nigerians against patronising such products that have not undergone or that could not pass laboratory and scientific tests.
How Pastor Fufeyin’s problem started
The trouble with the spiritual products from CMDM began following a face-off between the founder of the ministry and a social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
In another series of videos on social media, VDM tagged miracle water from the ministry as fake after purchasing and trying the products on some disabled people on the streets of Abuja, which failed to heal any of the disabled people.
And on Sunday, August 18, 2024, the church, through one Sophia Lloyd, disclosed that the church had slammed VDM with a N1,000,000,000 lawsuit.
However, the Prophet Fufeyin later withdrew the lawsuit, but it was late, as the video clips posted by VDM had gone viral while he had already submitted a petition at the NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja.
NAFDAC invitations
In a move to check the veracity of Fufeyin’s miracle water, which bears fake NAFDAC reg.No, the agency said invitations were sent to the founder of the church.
It was gathered that NAFDAC State Coordinator in Delta “visited the MercyLand Ministry and met the Head of Service (HOS) – Mr. Ogunleye Fufeyin and the Chief Security Officer (CSO).
“The officials denied producing Miracle and Healing Water or Soap even with the evidence of the receipt of purchase.
“He claimed that only the Logo and address on the label were theirs but not the product. The HOS added that they only have a pool of Bethsaida water which is spiritual and artificial. The HOS requested time to meet with other staff and returned. He returned after 30 minutes and refused to cooperate, asking them to see the CSO.
“The Agency then gave the Prophet till 29th to report to the investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC Office Asaba for further necessary investigation.
“Investigation and Enforcement Asaba waited for the Christ MercyLand Delivery Ministries officials based on their earlier request to report for commencement of investigation, but they still refused to show up.
“On 3rd September 2024, they forwarded some documents instead asking for more time to report.
NADFAC revealed that in a bid to cover up its fake products production, “the faith organization claimed to have entered into a production contract agreement with Globod Table Water Km 4, DSC Expressway, Otokutu, Delta State without the knowledge of NAFDAC State Office in Delta State. This act is illegal according to the extant rules and regulations on commercial production.”
The health regulation agency disclosed that all invitations to meet the officials of the ministry were not honoured.
It promised to continue with its investigation into the activities of this faith organization “with regards to products within our mandates that have been reported to be manufactured and sold by them,” and warned “either faith organizations against illegal production of regulated product without requisite regulatory requirements.”
Fufeyin says we never deceived Nigerians with fake NAFDAC Reg. No.
Meanwhile, the founder of the ministry Jeremiah Fufeyin, has denied the allegations, saying his church has never used fake NAFDAC registration numbers to deceive the general public, describing them as “false and misleading”.
A statement signed by the head of the church’s media unit, Sophia Iloyd, says “As a church, we are guided by our faith and the teachings of the Bible. We have been using spiritual items as an expression of our religious beliefs.
“The church strongly denied claims made in the publication, which suggested that NAFDAC was warning the public about the ministry’s activities.
“At no point has our church deceived the public. We have not produced or sold consumable items to the public, let alone used NAFDAC’s name to do so.”
The church further stated that the allegation by Verydarkblackman that he bought spiritual healing items from the church was under investigation, saying the receipt he allegedly showed on social media was allegedly forged.
