By Joseph Mapalo Kamanga
An Anambra State court has officially remanded eight pastors into custody following their arraignment on charges related to the performance of alleged “staged miracles”.
According to reports from major Nigerian outlets, the defendants were arraigned before a State High Court in Awka on Friday, June 5, 2026. The charges include violating the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025, with specific counts related to wielding fake supernatural powers, using places of worship for criminal activities, and obtaining money by false pretenses.
Prosecutors allege that the pastors collaborated with agents who recruited and paid individuals to pose as worshippers who had been miraculously healed or delivered during church programs.
The state’s prosecution team, led by Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Tobechukwu Nweke, has reportedly submitted video-recorded confessions of the defendants as evidence.
Following the proceedings, Justice Jude Obiorah ordered the defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility and adjourned the case until June 15, 2026, for further hearings and bail applications. This legal action is part of the administration’s broader effort to combat religious exploitation and social vices within the state.
© Zambia Reports June 7, 2026