The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun investigating a wide range of “miracle” products sold to the public by a Delta State-based church, Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, the agency said on Sunday.
NAFDAC claimed that its name has been used by the church and its pastor, Jeremiah Omoto, to deceive unsuspecting members of the public by falsely claiming that its products, including “miracle soap and water,” are registered with NAFDAC.
In a statement on Sunday signed by its Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said none of the products advertised and sold are registered with the agency as claimed by Mr Omoto.
It therefore advised the public to stop purchasing any of the products while it continued to investigate the organisation's activities with regard to the products reportedly manufactured and sold by it.
As part of its investigation, NAFDAC said it had “sealed Globod table water factory for aiding and abetting the production, sale and advertising of unregistered and harmful miracle water under the guise of a fake NAFDAC registration number.”
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NAFDAC said it received requests from concerned citizens regarding Mr Omoto's activities displaying miraculous soap and water to cure infertility.
The statement reads in part: “Recently, NAFDAC has been inundated with requests from concerned citizens about Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto of Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, KM 5 Effurun, Sapele Road, Delta State, regarding a Miracle Water and Miracle Soap being advertised with claims of healing and miracles and sold to unsuspecting members of the public by the Spiritual Ministry.
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“The minister showcased the use of the miraculous soap and water on social media to cure infertility. He claimed that women would become pregnant with twins if they used the soap. He openly told his congregation that the soap is registered with NAFDAC. Therefore, the public started visiting the office to confirm the claims.
“The applicants also submitted the following spiritual ministry products to NAFDAC to verify the false claims. The products are Miracle & Healing Water, River Jordan Water, 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 agency said upon receiving the requests, it contacted the Delta State Coordinator, through its Director of Post-Trade Surveillance, to verify the existence or records of any transactions with Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministries and the products at the Delta State office.
“The coordinator was also instructed to visit the Ministry to verify the veracity of the claims contained in the petitions and take necessary regulatory measures at the Ministry’s production facilities where the miracle water and other products are produced. The state coordinator covertly purchased the miracle water (25cl) for N3,000 from the Ministries and took the photographs,” he said.
Denial
NAFDAC further noted that on August 14, the Delta State Coordinator visited the ministry and met with the Head of Service, Ogunleye Fufeyin, and the Head of Security. According to the agency, both denied having manufactured “miracle and healing water” and soap, despite the existence of a proof of purchase.
They said the logo and address on the label belonged to the church, but not to the products. They also mentioned a special pool of water for spiritual purposes.
“The HOS asked for time to meet with other staff members and returned. He returned after 30 minutes and refused to cooperate, asking them to interview him with the CSO,” he said.
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On August 27, NAFDAC said its Investigation and Enforcement team and its Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unhealthy Processed Foods visited the church to begin the investigation, but officials did not cooperate with the team.
“Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries officials were invited to appear on August 28, but they did not show up. Instead, they sent a legal document to NAFDAC headquarters and asked to return on September 3,” the agency said.
The agency found that the religious organization entered into a production agreement with Globod Table Water without its knowledge, describing the act as “illegal under current rules and regulations on commercial production.”
Meanwhile, Newslodgeis yet to contact the church leaders for their comments on NAFDAC’s claims.