The Senior Prophet of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry in Abuja, Jeremiah Fufeyin, has refuted claims that his ministry used the name of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to deceive Nigerians with its spiritual items.
In a statement released on Sunday by the church’s media department, signed by Sophia Iloyd, the ministry described the allegations as false and misleading.
This response came after NAFDAC issued a public alert, alleging that Fufeyin’s church had been misleading people by falsely associating itself with the agency.
The church emphasized that it operates as a law-abiding institution, fully respecting the country’s laws, including those set by NAFDAC. It further highlighted that its practices are protected under Sections 38 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which ensure 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.
The church also addressed an ongoing legal matter involving Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Verydarkblackman, who had filed a petition against the ministry.
The church stated that Otse had submitted forged receipts as evidence, which are currently under police investigation. These receipts allegedly differ from the official ones issued by the church’s accounting office.
“We have written to NAFDAC and informed them that the receipts submitted by the complainant are under police investigation. Despite this, NAFDAC has not responded to our letters or provided any feedback on the matter,” the statement concluded.