The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has suspended the Vicar of St. Paul’s Parish, Nteje, in Oyi Local Government Area, Ifunaya Maduka, over allegations of staging fake prophecies and miracles.
The cleric was handed a six-month suspension without pay for what the church described as conduct unbecoming of an ordained priest.
In a letter dated April 27, 2026, the Bishop of the Diocese on the Niger, Owen Nwokolo, accused Maduka of orchestrating “arranged and manipulated” prophecies by allegedly using individuals he knew and paid, presenting the acts as genuine divine manifestations.
According to the bishop, the priest admitted involvement when confronted with evidence.
The church said the allegations raised serious moral and ecclesiastical concerns, including false prophecy, deception of worshippers, abuse of God’s name, and actions that could amount to obtaining money under false pretence.
It stressed that such conduct violates the doctrine, discipline, and ethical standards of the Anglican Church, noting that the incident has brought disrepute to the ministry and undermined public trust.
As part of the sanctions, Maduka has been directed to hand over all church property, financial records, and official materials in his possession to the People’s Warden, and to vacate the parish premises within four days.
The diocese also disclosed that a disciplinary panel would be constituted within one month to conduct a full investigation and determine any further action in line with church regulations.
It added that the decision followed careful consideration and was necessary to uphold discipline, integrity, and accountability within the church.
