Evangelist Ebuka Obi

Ebuka Obi
CitizenshipNigeria
OccupationCatholic preacher
Websitehttps://zpmom.org

Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi Listenⓘ, popularly known as Evangelist Ebuka Obi, is a Nigerian Catholic preacher and prophet. He is the founder and Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMO), a non-denominational Christian prayer ministry based in Ago-Okota, Lagos, Nigeria.[1] His ministry is claimed to have grown to 170 branches worldwide.[2] He is also the founder of Seraphic Home Foundation which caters for poor people and widows, and facilitates payment of school fees for indigent students.[3]

Early life and background

Obi was born as a twin to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Obi in Ubulu-Ihejiofor, Oru West Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria.[2] His mother reportedly had a revelation while she was pregnant that she would give birth to twins and that one of them had been chosen by God to serve him. At the age of 8, he started prophesying, and people came to his father's compound in search of him.[2][4]

At age 12, Obi accompanied the Father Luke Odinkemere on exorcisms, with an ability to locate buried diabolical objects, which Odinkemere verified through digging. He also predicted the gender of unborn children. Odinkemere guided Obi to take a vow of celibacy at age 12. This vow included commitments to remain chaste until marriage, stay within the Catholic Church, and avoid being driven by materialism.[5] As a result, Obi avoided interactions with women, including his sisters.[6]

Career

Obi was apprenticed to a cable business dealer in Lagos. Later his inclinations to prophecies and another ability to heal sicknesses distracted him from the cable business; so he left with a crowd of people seeking healing and following him to a prayer ground.[7][8]

In 2009, Obi founded the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach in Lagos.[6][9] Not intending it as a church, he refuses to collect tithes, perform baptisms, weddings, or bazaars. He also welcomes everyone of any religion to the prayer ground.[7] It grew to 170 branches worldwide.[10] Obi's prophesies, deliverance and miracles are a regular part of the liturgy of the ministry.[11] On August 23, 2024, Obi hosted the first three-day World Conference of the ministry in south east Nigeria, at Amala/Ntu in Ngor-Okpala, Imo State.[3][12]

Obi founded the Seraphic Home Foundation,[13] which caters to the needs of orphans, widows and others in need. He also founded the Seraphic water company which provides water to the general public.[14] His Seraphic Hospital provides free treatment to poor patients. He embarked on a campaign to stop the evil practice in Igbo land where people are forced to appear before deities and shrines in the name of settling disputes.[15]

Controversies

Obi has been accused of performing fake miracles to convince people to make donations to his ministry.[16] In March 2025, a woman was arrested for giving fake testimony about the results of his prophecy.[17] Obi distanced himself from her and said she had "lied to God".[18] Another woman claimed on social media that his "malicious prophecy" had led to her being accused of witchcraft after he implied she was responsible for her daughter's illness.[19]

The reported healing of Arinze Chinwuba of the Anambra State University in which he threw away the double crutches which aided him to walk[20][21] and the testimony of a former member of the National Assembly (Nigeria), Uche Nwole endorsing the validity of Obi's miracles,[22] oppose accusations that some miracles performed at Zion ministry may be faux.

A blogger was arrested by the Nigerian police for accusing Obi of fake miracles.[23][24]

Other cases

Earlier in March 2024, another blogger reportedly made accusations against Obi.[25] In March 2025, a woman gave a false testimony at Zion ministry about owning a 500 Million Naira house; upon discovering the testimony was false, Obi disassociated himself from the woman's claims.[26][27][28][29] A similar case involving submission of charms was also unraveled.[30] Three men were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for impersonating Obi on social media.[31] An attempt was also made to assassinate Obi.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Rapheal (2024-08-04). "Unveiling Evangelist Ebuka Obi". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  2. 1 2 3 Odibo, Charles. "EBUKA OBI: Championing Renaissance of Cosmopolitan Race". This Day. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  3. 1 2 Duru, Emeka (2024-08-23). "Zion Ministry's South East crusading conference". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  4. ↑ "Evangelist Ebuka Obi exclusive: Day I escaped gunmen's attack (1)". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. November 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ Sunday, Ochogwu (2024-11-10). "I'm still virgin - Evangelist Ebuka Obi of Zion ministry reveals three promises he made to God". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  6. 1 2 Ugwuzor, Precious. "The Many Sides of Popular Evangelist, Ebuka Obi". This Day. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  7. 1 2 Alex Duru, Emeka (2024-11-10). "Ebuka Obi: My life, the miracles, attempts to silence me". TheNiche. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  8. ↑ "Evangelist Ebuka Obi exclusive: Day I escaped gunmen's attack (2)". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. November 10, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ebuka Obi: Zion Prayer Movement Outreach prophet deny allegation of fake miracles". BBC News Pidgin. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  10. ↑ "Evangelist Ebuka Obi: Consecrated to His Calling, Touching Lives". This Day. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  11. ↑ Agbo, Jeffrey (2024-01-04). "2024 will be difficult but righteousness will see Nigerians through, says Evang. Ebuka Obi". TheNiche. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  12. ↑ Martins, Ori (2024-08-26). "Evangelist Ebuka Obi attracts billions of naira investment to Imo". hallmarknews.com. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  13. ↑ Okogba, Emmanuel (2025-01-22). "Evang. Ebuka Obi launches foundation for underprivileged". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  14. ↑ "Evangelist Ebuka Obi exclusive: Day I escaped gunmen's attack (3)". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. November 10, 2024.
  15. ↑ Abuchi, Joe (2023-11-08). "The uncommon "Man of God" called Ebuka Obi". The Authority. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  16. ↑ Ugwu, Chinagorom (2025-03-03). "TRENDING: Popular Nigerian prophet, Ebuka Obi, enmeshed in N500 million 'fake miracle' scandal". Premium Times. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  17. ↑ "Woman Arrested For Giving 'Fake Testimony' About N300million Mansion At Prophet Ebuka Obi's Zion Prayer Movement | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  18. ↑ Nwafor (2025-03-03). "Zion Ministry didn't lie; woman who fabricated her miracle lied to God - Prophet Ebuka Obi". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  19. ↑ "Ebuka Obi's Prophecies and Destruction of Families". This Day. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  20. ↑ Reporter (2023-11-07). "Evang. Ebuka Obi: Daring to be different – By Arinze Anapugars". TheNewsGuru. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  21. ↑ Azuh, Arinze (2023-12-25). "Ebuka Obi Of Zion Ministry: 3 Mistakes Men Of God Make". Yes International! Magazine. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  22. ↑ Reporter, Our (2023-12-10). "How my fortunes changed after Ebuka Obi prayed for me – Nwole". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  23. ↑ Oamen, Samuel (2024-03-22). "Police invite social media influencer Ijele for accusing Evang Ebuka Obi of fake miracles". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  24. ↑ Oluwafemi, Ayodele (2025-01-27). "Evangelist Ebuka Obi denies alleged involvement in dismissal of police officers". TheCable. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  25. ↑ Admin 2 (2024-03-09). "Blogger risks court action over false accusation against Ebuka Obi, Zion Ministry". TheNiche. Retrieved 2025-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ Fasan, Yewande (2025-03-03). "Pastor Ebuka Obi disowns woman behind fake N500m house testimony". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  27. ↑ "Fake testimony: At last, Ebuka Obi speaks". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria. 2025-03-03. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  28. ↑ "Ebuka Obi: Zion Prayer Movement Outreach prophet deny allegation of fake miracles". BBC News Pidgin. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  29. ↑ Nwafor (2025-03-03). "Zion Ministry didn't lie; woman who fabricated her miracle lied to God - Prophet Ebuka Obi". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  30. ↑ "Evangelist Ebuka Obi exclusive: Day I escaped gunmen's attack (4)". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. November 10, 2024.
  31. ↑ Bankole, Idowu (2025-01-04). "Three convicted for impersonating Evang Ebuka Obi to defraud Zion members". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  32. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2022-10-15). "Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi: Celebrating a phenomenal evangelist of our time". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
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