We have never used NAFDAC’s name to deceive…
.By Ola Kay
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians to the activities of a religious organisation, Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, led by Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, using the agency’s name to deceive members of the public.
The was contained in a statement signed by NAFDAC Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye and issued on Sunday. The statement declared that none of the products advertised and sold are registered with the agency.
“NAFDAC wishes to alert the public on the activities of a faith-based organization – Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries – that uses NAFDAC name to deceive the unsuspecting public.
“Recently, NAFDAC has been inundated with petitions from concerned citizens about Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, Km 5 Effurun, Sapele Road, Delta State, on a Miracle Water and Miracle Soap being advertised with healing and miracle claims and sold to unsuspecting members of the public by the Spiritual Ministry. The Minister showcased the use of Miracle Water and Miracle Soap on social media to heal barrenness. He claimed that the women would carry twins if they used the soap. He openly told his congregation that the Soap is NAFDAC registered. Thus, the public began to visit the office to confirm the claims.
The petitioners also submitted the following products from the Spiritual Ministry to NAFDAC to verify the bogus claims. The products are Miracle & Healing Water, River Jordan Water, the Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida, A New Beginning Mount Camel Miracle Water, Water of Life, Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida (1L), A New Beginning Pool of Bethsaida Water, and Father Smelled Perfume,” said the NAFDAC DG
The statement added that after receiving the petitions, the agency it contacted the Delta State Coordinator, through the Director Post Marketing Surveillance of the agency, to ascertain the existence or records of any transaction with the Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries and the products in Delta State Office.
Prof. Adeyeye sated further that,“The Coordinator was also directed to visit the Ministry to establish the veracity of the claims in the petitions and take necessary regulatory action on the production facility in the Ministry where the Miracle water and other products are produced. The State Coordinator covertly bought the Miracle Water (25cl) for 3000 naira from the Ministries and took the pictures.
On Wednesday, August 14th 2024, the State Coordinator Delta State visited the Mercy Land Ministry and met the Head of Service – Mr. Ogunleye Fufeyin and the Chief Security Officer. 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.
“On August 27th 2024, a team of Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC and Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods visited the Ministry to commence investigation on the place of purchase or the manufacturing site for possible sample collection, for laboratory analysis, but the officials did not cooperate with the team. Letters of invitation were issued to the officials to report on August 28th, but it was not honoured. The company instead submitted a Legal document at NAFDAC Headquarters Abuja on August 28th, 2024 and asked to come back on September 3rd, 2024, to organise their document before coming. The Agency then gave the Prophet till the 29th to report to the investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC Office Asaba for further necessary investigation.
Investigation and Enforcement Asaba waited for the Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries officials based on their earlier request to report for commencement of the investigation, but they still refused to show up. On September 3rd, 2024, they forwarded some documents instead of asking for more time to report.”
But in a dramatic twist, a document made available to the NAFDAC Office on the evening of September 3rd, the faith organisation 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.
NAFDAC considered the steps taken as act is illegal according to the extant rules and regulations on commercial production.
“In continuation of our investigation, NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement has sealed the Globod Table Water factory to aid and abet the production, sale, and advertisement of unregistered and unwholesome Miracle Water under the pretext of Fake NAFDAC Registration Number.
“At this point, it is very clear that Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5, is not ready to present itself for investigation of production and advertisement of suspected falsified, unwholesome, and unregistered miracle products.
“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public that none of these products being advertised and sold are registered with NAFDAC. The public is also being advised to stop patronizing any of these Miracle products. NAFDAC is scientific organization that is guided by verifiable scientific facts before registering any product.
“In the meantime, we will continue with our investigation into the activities of this faith organization with regard to products within our mandates that have been reported to be manufactured and sold by them. I want to use this opportunity to warn faith organizations against illegal production of regulated products without requisite regulatory requirements,” it added.
The NAFDAC DG assured of the agency’s determination to continue to safeguard the health of the nation, in line with its statutory responsibility.
Church denies Allegations
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Senior Prophet of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry, Abuja, Jeremiah Fufeyin, has denied allegations that his ministry has been using the name of NAFDAC to mislead the public regarding spiritual water and soap.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the church’s media arm, and signed by Sophia Iloyd, the church responded that all the allegations against its leadership are false and misleading.
The church stressed that it conducts itself under the protections of Sections 38 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and expression.
“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 statement read
It argued that the only complaint pending against the church is a petition by one Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Verydarkblackman, who the church has taken to court over some allegations.
Prophet Fufeyin’s church acknowledged receiving a letter from NAFDAC dated August 27, 2024, which invited the church’s spiritual head for an inquiry into its use of miracle and healing items.
But the church claimed that it was given less than 12 hours to respond and had already communicated its position to NAFDAC via official correspondence, while claiming that the complainant, Otse, forged receipts to back his claims against the ministry.
The minister stated further that the alleged forged receipts against it are being investigated by the police.
Nigerians now anxiously await how the controversial matters will be resolved after thorough investigations by the police.
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