In a groundbreaking development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency, apprehended Archbishop Angel Oyeghe, founder of the Faith Healing Ministry based in Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The charge against the self-proclaimed religious leader stems from her involvement in a viral video showing church members spraying naira notes on a live cow during a church ceremony, an act deemed as currency mutilation and suspected laundering of illicit proceeds as per Nigerian law.
The viral video, which drew widespread condemnation on social media platforms across Nigeria, depicts a religious service where congregants spray naira notes onto a live cow, an act believed to be a ritualistic offering or display of wealth, but also as a violation of the provisions of Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. The act of mutilating currency in such a manner contravenes legal statutes aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s national currency.
Operatives from the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC acted swiftly following the emergence and circulation of the viral footage. The agency confirmed Oyeghe’s arrest and indicated that investigations are ongoing, with efforts to apprehend other suspects involved in the act. The EFCC stated that the act violates the currency regulation statutes and is tantamount to criminal conspiracy and money laundering suspect activities.
The EFCC has also disclosed that Archbishop Oyeghe has provided detailed statements to investigators, which will be used as evidence in court proceedings once the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, the agency is actively pursuing additional suspects believed to be involved or complicit in the incident.
The act of spraying naira notes on a live cow has raised serious legal questions, considering Nigeria’s stringent laws against currency mutilation under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. Anyone found guilty of mutilating or damaging Nigerian currency faces prosecution and potential imprisonment. The incident has also stirred debates over the cultural and religious practices that may conflict with Nigeria’s legal framework against currency abuse.
The viral nature of the video triggered an array of reactions from the Nigerian public, some condemning the act as sacrilegious and a form of financial misconduct, while others viewed it as a cultural ritual or religious expression. The EFCC’s intervention underscores the Nigerian government’s commitment to uphold laws safeguarding economic stability and integrity
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Archbishop Angel Oyeghe, who styles herself as a spiritual leader, is expected to face formal charges in court soon after the completion of the investigation. The EFCC’s ongoing operation aims to clamp down on similar violations that threaten Nigeria’s financial discipline and public trust in the nation’s currency. Further developments will be watched closely as authorities intensify their crackdown on currency mutilation and financial misconduct in Nigeria.
