By Gwurld4026 
Legal Consequences of False Claims in Zion Ministry
On March 11, 2025, Loveth Helen Alo, a 32-year-old woman, was arraigned before the Enugu North Magisterial District Court for allegedly providing a false testimony at Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s Zion Prayer Ministry Movement Outreach in Lagos. During a service, Alo claimed that God had blessed her with a five-bedroom duplex located at Plot 16, WTC Estate, Enugu, valued at ₦300 million. However, investigations revealed that the property belonged to Architect Emmanuel Asogwa, leading to allegations that Alo’s testimony was fabricated.
The Enugu State Police Command arrested Alo on February 1, 2025, following a petition that accused her of falsely claiming ownership of the property. During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the crime, admitting that she acted alone. Subsequently, she was charged with five counts, including obtaining by false pretense with intent to defraud, defamation of character, and attempting to commit a felony by trying to sell the property.
Appearing before Magistrate S.O. Chukwuani, Alo pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her defense counsel, Charles Nwodo, applied for bail, which was granted at ₦1 million, along with the requirement of a surety who possesses three years of tax clearance. The case has been adjourned to April 9, 2025, for further hearing.
In a statement following her arraignment, Alo maintained that no one from the Zion Ministry orchestrated the testimony with her. She explained that she had inspected the house and was in the process of acquiring it, which led her to testify about it prematurely. She stated, “I did the testimony claiming that I will get it. Nobody arranged anything with me, I did not collect anything from anybody.”
Evangelist Ebuka Obi and the Zion Ministry have distanced themselves from Alo’s claims, emphasizing that they were unaware of the falsehood and did not collaborate with her regarding the testimony. This incident has sparked discussions about the authenticity of testimonies shared in religious gatherings and the potential implications of false claims on the credibility of religious institutions.