People expect pastors to have high moral standards and be role models for their church members. But history shows that even respected pastors are still human, and some have committed serious crimes that betray that trust.
This list covers ten Nigerian pastors whose actions shocked the nation.
Bishop Feyiropori Daniels
The founder of I Reign Christian Family, Bishop Daniels, was convicted of rape and sexual assault on January 26, 2024, for abusing multiple female church members at his Lagos residence.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court and is currently serving his sentence at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.
Pastor Ndukwe Ogbu
A self-proclaimed Lagos-based pastor, Ogbu was convicted on June 30, 2025, by the Ikeja Special Offences Court for child abuse, defilement, and sexual assault by penetration of his 14-year-old biological daughter.
He was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to 53 years in prison, with the terms running concurrently and effective from December 2019 when he was remanded.
Prophet Adedfolia Aru (Abbas Ajakai)
The General Overseer of Turn of Mercy Church in Lekki, Prophet Adedfolia Aru, was arrested on August 3, 2025, by the NDLEA for cross-border drug trafficking after months on the run.
He confessed to fleeing to Ghana after the agency intercepted two cannabis shipments totaling 900kg — 200kg at Okun Ajah beach on June 4, 2025 and 700kg from his ministry delivery van on July 6, 2025 — both smuggled via waterways.
Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi
Pastor Oluwasanmi was arrested on April 5, 2024 by the FBI after being indicted on 13 counts of fraud for conspiring to defraud the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
He used forged paperwork under his companies Dayspring Property, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation to siphon off emergency pandemic funds meant for small businesses.
Pastor Dayo Bernard
Pastor Bernard of End Time Army Ministry in Bukuru, Plateau State, was arrested on December 2, 2024, for running a major child-trafficking syndicate that involved human trafficking and child stealing.
Law enforcement raided his network, rescued 13 children, and extracted a confession from Bernard regarding buying and selling vulnerable children for forced labor and illegal adoptions.
Pastor Theo O. Ebonyi,
A well-known Benue State-based pastor, Theo Ebonyi, was arrested on February 5, 2024, by the EFCC for advanced fee fraud and swindling his followers of over N1.3 billion ($930,000).
He allegedly lured victims into paying fake “clearance fees” to access a completely fabricated $20 billion grant from the Ford Foundation, with each subscriber paying N1.8 million.
Reverend Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ekwem
The General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Reverend Ekwem, was arrested on March 7, 2022, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport by the NDLEA for narcotics smuggling.
He was caught attempting to board a flight to Kenya with 54 sticks of cannabis wrapped tightly around his body, which he claimed were intended for personal use during a 3-week crusade.
Father Anthony Odiong
A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest ordained in Nigeria who later relocated to the US, Father Odiong was convicted on May 29, 2026, by a Texas jury on three counts of felony sexual assault.
He exploited his clerical and spiritual authority to assault women placed under his spiritual care, using his position as a priest to manipulate and pressure them into sexual relationships.
Pastor Noah Ibraham
Leader of Christ High Commission Ministry, Pastor Noah Ibraham was arrested and arraigned on April 27, 2022 by the Nigerian Police in Ekiti State for obtaining money under false pretenses.
He faced criminal charges for demanding and taking N310,000 from vulnerable church members under the fraudulent guise of selling them physical “tickets to heaven”.
