Jeremiah Fufeyin, the Senior Prophet of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry, has disputed charges that his organisation has misled the public about spiritual things by using the name of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The church’s media arm published a statement on Sunday, signed by Sophia Iloyd, claiming that the claims were inaccurate and misleading.
The remark came in response to NAFDAC’s announcement on Sunday, which warned the public about Fufeyin’s church’s activities and claimed he was using the agency’s name to deceive the public.
The church, on the other hand, claims to be a law-abiding institution that follows all applicable regulations, including those enacted by NAFDAC.
It highlighted that it acts in accordance with Sections 38 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provide religious and expressive freedom.
“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 went on to state that the only complaint outstanding against the church is a petition filed by Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Verydark Blackman, whom the church has sued over a variety of charges.
Fufeyin’s church reported receiving a letter from NAFDAC dated August 27, 2024, inviting the church’s spiritual leader to an investigation into the usage of miraculous and healing products.
However, the church argued that it had less than 12 hours to respond and had already stated its stance to NAFDAC through official communication.
The church also claimed that the complainant, Otse, used fake receipts to support his allegations against the ministry.
These receipts, it stated, were distinct from those generally provided by the church’s accounting office, and there were irregularities in dates and details.
“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.
