Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has called on the federal government to introduce legislation regulating religious leaders who claim to perform miracles.
In a video shared online, Kuti argued that such claims should not go unchecked and must be subjected to strict verification processes. He suggested that medical institutions like the Lagos University Teaching Hospital should be involved in assessing the authenticity of alleged miracles.
According to him, any claim of supernatural healing or intervention should be proven under controlled medical supervision. He stressed that these demonstrations must be repeatable and verifiable, rather than based on isolated or unconfirmed testimonies.
Kuti cited extreme examples to illustrate his point, including claims of restoring sight to individuals without eyeballs, insisting that only such clearly verifiable outcomes should qualify as genuine miracles.
He further proposed tough penalties for individuals who fail to substantiate their claims. This includes a recommendation of up to 50 years’ imprisonment for those found guilty of making false miracle assertions.
“The only exception would be if the miracle can be proven under medical conditions,” he said, adding that claimants should be able to demonstrate their abilities on multiple individuals in a clinical setting.
Kuti’s comments have added to ongoing debates around religion, accountability, and regulation in Nigeria, where claims of miraculous healings and supernatural interventions are common in some religious circles.
While his proposal has sparked discussion, it also raises broader questions about the intersection of faith, science, and government oversight in the country.
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