Prophet Arraigned For Allegedly Using Fake Prophecy To Cause Havoc In Community 

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki town, Ebonyi State, has ordered for the remand of self-acclamed Prophet Nwebonyi Unadinma in prison custody for allegedly using fake prophecies to cause havoc in the community. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the 24-year old Prophet Unadinma was charged before the Court on 14-count charges for attempted murder, arson, defamation of character, malicious damage and stealing under the Criminal law of the State over his alleged conduct.

The arraignment followed his arrest by Police operatives from the Ebonyi State Command over his conduct through his prophecies targeted against some victims which led to the destruction of their properties and reputation.

The Police prosecutor, Lilian Aliede, told the court that Mr. Unadinma committed the offences at Offianka Inyima, Agharaoza, Affiauku and the Ochiohu Inyegu Communities in Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant committed the alleged offences in 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025 by releasing what many described as “fake prophecies” in communities in the Izzi clan of the state.

He was alleged to have “prophesied” that an Ebonyi-born entrepreneur, Emeka Mgbore, was a ritualist and circulated a video clip of the said ‘fake prophecy’ on social media.

Following the prophecy, the entrepreneur, who is based in Ogun State, was reportedly attacked and his shops looted by an angry mob in the South-western state.

In  a similar manner, the defendant allegedly made inciting and defamatory utterances against some residents, including Linus Uguru, and Njoku Iziogo, at Offianka Inyima Community, accordingly to the Police prosecutor before the Court.

After the investigation, the Police found him culpable and charged before the Court for the alleged offences, which attract several years of imprisonment.

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The Counsel for the defendant, Emeka Anosike, asked the Court to grant him bail and argued that the alleged offences were “bailable”.

But the Police prosecutor, Mrs. Aliede, opposed the bail application, arguing that the offences were serious and the defendant may jump bail to escape Justice.

She told the court that for the matter of defamation of character, the offences were punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 and 373(a) Criminal Code Cap.33 Vols. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Sandra Ifeanyi-Oyibe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties on defamation of character, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and should also show evidence of tax clearance for three years.

The matter was adjourned till 15th and 16th September, 2025 for hearing.

The Court also declined to grant bail on the other matters, including attempted murder, arson, malicious damage, and stealing based on the issue of lack of jurisdiction to hear them.

The Court directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.