Nigerian Pastor Jeremiah Fufeyin, Christ Mercyland Ministry dragged to Court over alleged N49m debt

Abuja, Nigeria – Hybrid-Impex Resources Limited, a Delta state-based company, has dragged the founder and General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry International Incorporated, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin and his ministry, the Registered Trustees Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry International Incorporated to court over their alleged refusal to pay an outstanding debt of N48,648,950.23 being owed the company.

A writ of summons regarding the issue has been filed at the Delta State High Court in Effurun judicial division, Effurun, headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area of the state on behalf of the company by its counsel, Matthew O. Omonade (Esq.).

The writ of summons has Hybrid-Impex Resources Limited as the claimant while the Registered Trustees Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry International Incorporated and Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin are 1st and 2nd defendants in the case.
In a statement of claim found in the suit marked EHC/238/2022, the claimant among other things averred that sometime in August 2015, the 1st and 2nd Defendants entered into an oral agreement with him and commissioned him to design and construct a church administrative complex for the 1st defendant.

The statement of claim reads, “The claimant avers that at the time the claimant got the design for the church administrative complex approved, the 2nd defendant was in Lagos state making plans to travel to Italy for his first crusade abroad, but however, the 2nd defendant prevailed on Arc. Oniomughare Alex Emuobor, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the claimant on phone, stating his ultimate desire in moving from the defendants’ former location at refinery road to their current Mercy City permanent site at Effurun/Sapele Road.

“The claimant avers that sequel to paucity of time and funds, the 2nd defendant pleaded with the claimant to commence construction without any dime paid as mobilization and pleaded with Arc. Oniomughare Alex Emuobor, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the claimant for the claimant to get the needed building materials on credit from the claimant’s suppliers and that upon his return, the project would be properly evaluated and the claimant would be properly mobilized and paid.

“The claimant avers that sequel to the preceding paragraph and consequent upon the fact that the 2nd defendant held himself out as a ‘Prophet of God’ who should have the fear of God and who should be a man of unquestionable character, honesty, righteousness and integrity, the claimant obtained building materials on credit and expended its personal funds in commencing the foundation of the project in accordance with the job specification and upon the return of the 2nd defendant from Italy, after being satisfied with the work done, the defendants paid some paltry sum of money to the claimant and pleaded that the claimant should continue with the construction while the defendants source for more funds.

“The claimant avers that as at the time the defendants put the project on hold the total outstanding balance owed the claimant for the existing work done was N37, 353, 568.00. The claimant avers that after several months and due to persistent pressure on the claimant from its creditors and suppliers, claimant through its managing director approached the 2nd defendant and requested that the work done prior to the stoppage by the 2nd defendant should be quantified by any quantity surveyor of their choice, to enable the defendants clear the outstanding balance owed the claimant for the claimant to offset her indebtedness to her suppliers and creditors.”

The claimant, however, stated that the total cost for the project was N191,545,382.07 while the outstanding balance due the claimant is put at N48,648,950.23.

According to the claimant, “while he (Omuobor) is faced with inexplicable mental/physical torture and threat to life and members of his family for work done for the defendants, the 2nd defendant acquired a private jet worth billions of naira and has been busy in the public space parading pseudo charity to celebrities and prostitutes, while secretly displaying crass inhumanity to labourers who have sacrificed their all in helping the defendants build their current permanent site where they are raking billions of naira.”

The claimant’s claims against the defendants are as follows:

“The sum of N48,648,950.23 being the outstanding balance due the claimant for the construction work/services rendered at the defendants’ pastoral hotel lodge project situate at Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry International Incorporated headquarters, Effurun/Sapele road, Effurun, Uvwei local government area of Delta state.

“An order of court directing the defendants to pay the claimant the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten million naira) being and representing general damages for breach of contract and the unjust delay and refusal to pay the claimant its monies for the services rendered, which has occasioned grievous financial loss and embarrassment to the claimant.

“An order of court mandating the defendants to pay 10% interest monthly on the judgment sum(s) from the date of delivery of judgment until the judgment sum(s) is liquidated.”