The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three individuals—Odion Victor, Amos Godwin, and Ayomide Michael—for impersonating Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach on social media to defraud the public. The suspects allegedly created fake social media profiles of the well-known evangelist to trick his followers into donating money for various causes such as medical treatments and spiritual blessings. These funds were then diverted into the personal bank accounts of the fraudsters.
Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi, the founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMO), is a notable Nigerian pastor and spiritual leader. Born in Imo State, Nigeria, he demonstrated prophetic abilities from a young age. Despite initially pursuing a career in the cable business, he felt a divine calling to full-time ministry, leading to the establishment of ZPMO in 2009. This non-denominational ministry has since grown significantly, with over 170 branches worldwide and numerous initiatives aimed at helping the less privileged.
The fraudsters targeted followers of Evangelist Obi, taking advantage of his widespread influence and the trust his followers had in him. They used the cloned social media accounts to solicit donations for various purported causes, such as treatments for sick individuals and special spiritual offerings. The EFCC acted on credible intelligence to uncover and halt these fraudulent activities.
Following their arrest, the suspects are set to face charges in court after the EFCC completes its investigations.
