The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has disowned controversial preacher Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin’s claim that giving a “first fruit” offering can erase sins, including those of fraudsters.
CAN labeled the statement as false doctrine and warned Nigerians against misleading teachings.
Fufeyin, founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, made the assertion during a sermon, stating that first fruit offerings—traditionally meant as gratitude to God—could “break protocols” and cancel sins. A clip of his 2022 message recently resurfaced, sparking backlash.
CAN’s National Director of Issues and Social Welfare, Abimbola Ayuba, dismissed the claim as “heresy,” emphasizing that God does not condone fraud. Similarly, Lagos CAN Chairman Bishop Stephen Adegbite challenged Fufeyin to provide biblical backing for his teaching, calling it a distortion of scripture.
Fufeyin, known for selling spiritual items like “blessed” soaps and ATM cards, has faced scrutiny before, including investigations into his miracle products. Efforts to get his response were unsuccessful, as his church redirected inquiries to an in-person meeting.
CAN urged the public to be wary of unorthodox doctrines, reaffirming its commitment to sound biblical teachings.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
