The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public on the activities of the leader of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, a faith-based organization, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto, especially his claim that the and soap water being used by the organisation for miracles are registered by it as fake.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof, Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement, recalled that recently, NAFDAC had been inundated with petitions from concerned citizens about Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries on a Miracle Water and Miracle Soap being advertised with healing and miracle claims and sold to unsuspecting members of the public by the Spiritual Ministry.
According to her, the prophet showcased the use of Miracle Water and Miracle Soap on social media to heal barrenness, claiming that the women would carry twins if they used the soap and openly told his congregation that the Soap is NAFDAC registered.
Mojisola stated that following the claim, many members of the public began to visit the office to confirm the claims as they related to the products, namely Miracle & Healing Water, River Jordan Water, The Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida, A new beginning Mount Camel Miracle Water, Water of life, Miracle Water from The Pool of Bethsaida (1L), A New Beginning Pool of Bethsaida Water, and Father Smelled Perfume.
The Director-General confirmed that upon receipt of the petitions, NAFDAC, through the Director Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) NAFDAC, contacted the Delta State Coordinator to ascertain the existence or records of any transaction with the Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries and the products in Delta State Office.
In addition, she stated that the Coordinator was also directed to visit the Ministry to establish the veracity of the claims in the petitions and take necessary regulatory action on the production facility in the Ministry where the Miracle water and other products are produced, adding that the State Coordinator covertly bought the Miracle Water (25cl) for 3000 Naira from the Ministries and took the pictures.
Mojisola expatiated that on Wednesday 14th August 2024, the NAFDAC’s State Coordinator Delta State visited the Mercy Land Ministry and met the Head of Service (HOS) – Mr. Ogunleye Fufeyin and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and that the officials denied producing Miracle and Healing Water or Soap even with the evidence of the receipt of purchase.
She stated that Fufeyin claimed that only the Logo and address on the label were theirs but not the product, and that HOS added that they only have a pool of Bethsaida water, which is spiritual and artificial and he requested time to meet with other staff and returned after which he returned after 30 minutes and refused to cooperate, asking them to see the CSO.
The Director-General also highlighted several other steps taken by a team of Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC and Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods visited the Ministry, to commence investigation on the place of purchase or the manufacturing site for possible sample collection, for laboratory analysis, but the officials did not cooperate with the team.
She stated that Letters of invitation were issued NAFDAC to the officials but they failed to honour the invitation but that the company instead submitted a Legal document at NAFDAC Headquarters Abuja on 28th August 2024 and asked to come back on the 3rd September 2024 to organise their document before coming.
Mojisola maintained that the Agency then gave Prophet Omoto up tol 29th August to report at investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC Office Asaba for further necessary investigation but he failed to show up and that on 3rd September 2024, they forwarded some documents instead, asking for more time to report.
She further clarified: “In a document, made available to NAFDAC Office in the evening of 3rd September, the faith organization claimed to have entered into a production contract agreement with Globod Table Water Km 4, DSC Expressway, Otokutu, Delta State without the knowledge of NAFDAC State Office in Delta State. This act is illegal according to the extant rules and regulations on commercial production.
“In continuation of our investigation NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement has sealed Globod Table Water factory for aiding and abetting the production, sale and advertisement of unregistered and unwholesome Miracle Water under the pretext of Fake NAFDAC Registration Number.
“At this point, it is very clear that Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5, is not ready to present itself for investigation of production and advertisement of suspected falsified, unwholesome, and unregistered “Miracle” products.
“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public that none of these products being advertised and sold are registered with NAFDAC. The public is also being advised to stop patronizing any of these Miracle products. NAFDAC is scientific organization that is guided by verifiable scientific facts before registering any product.
“In the meantime, we will continue with our investigation into the activities of this faith organization with regards to products within our mandates that have been reported to be manufactured and sold by them. I want to use this opportunity to warn either faith organizations against illegal production of regulated product without requisite regulatory requirements.
“I want to assure Nigerians of our resolve to continue safeguarding health of the citizens”, the agency’s Director-General added.
