‘Unfounded narratives’ — pastor denies using NAFDAC’s name to sell miracle water

Jeremiah Omoto, pastor of Christ Mercy Land Ministries, has denied allegations that his church uses the name of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to sell miracle water and soap.

In a statement on Sunday, NAFDAC had warned Nigerians against the products, saying the faith-based organisation uses its name to “deceive an unsuspecting public”.

The statement added that the products were being advertised with healing and miracle claims.

NAFDAC also said the ministry’s officials “refused to cooperate” and that despite repeated invitations, it failed to show up for investigation.

Reacting in a statement, the church’s media department said the ministry is law-abiding and recognises the extant laws of the land, including the NAFDAC act.

“As a Christian Association, we are guided by Section 39 and 38 of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, that guarantees all Christians and our Church the Right to freedom of religion without interference whatsoever in this regard,” the statement reads.

”It is sequel to that, as a church we have been operating and guided by the tenets of our faith and biblical injunctions in the holy bible in this regard. We have been using certain spiritual items in expression of our religious beliefs.”

The church said upon receipt of NAFDAC’s invitation, it wrote to the agency’s headquarter office in Abuja before the 12-hour ultimatum.

“An official letter communicated our position in this matter to NAFDAC and then also sent another subsequent letter to NAFDAC”, the statement reads.

“We also bring to fore and knowledge of NAFDAC that the supposed nominal complainant to NAFDAC Asaba office actually forge the Church receipts in other to Clote himself with the right to bring a complaint before the NAFDAC office in this regard.

“We also wish to state that presently there is an ongoing police investigation of certain receipts that has indicted the nominal complainants to NAFDAC office, which same receipts is presumed to have been have forged and same used falsely in procuring the now investigated spiritual items by NAFDAC office.”

The church said it has “never sold consumable items to the public” but simply “exercised the right to expression of religion through the use of spiritual items”.

“We also wish to state that Senior Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin of Christ Mercy Land Ministry has never used NAFDAC name as an agency to deceive innocent members of the public,” the statement adds.

“We also wish to state that the head of administration of Christ mercyland deliverance Ministry through the head of administration in Elder oguluoa fufeyin, a contractor to the church in conjunction with globod table water, our legal representatives and others actually honoured the invitation of nafdac on Thursday 2nd September 2024 in this regard at there Asaba headquater office.

”We also wish to state that Church several issues with NAFDAC are matters of privileges and we don’t intend to undermine the investigation in this case, by joining issues with punch newspaper on different and sundry allegations raised in their story.

“We also wish to state that our Church evidence on miracle claims are founded and same abound of several miracles and healings that took place in the church premises and other venues, as same constitute demonstration of the church right to freedom of religion and biblical injunctions in the holy bible.

“We also wish to state that there are other spiritual items being given to the Church members, partners, friends ,visitors of the church in line with constitutional right to freedom of Religion which are not subject to nafdac regulation and mandate in this regard in line with the nafdac act.”