A popular Nigerian pastor, Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, has been arrested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over alleged fraud.
Ebonyi is also the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International,
According to the anti-graft in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Monday, the pastor defrauds his church members and other Nigerians through the use of counterfeit grants, purportedly from the Ford Foundation, totalling N1,319,040,274.31.
Oyewale said Ebonyi’s arrest stems from allegations of swindling victims, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.
He allegedly promoted an intervention project via his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, falsely asserting that the Ford Foundation was offering a $20,000,000.000 grant to aid the less fortunate in society.
It was reported that Ebonyi utilized various social media platforms to promote his fraudulent grant, supposedly from the Ford Foundation, to his followers.
The statement added that Ebonyi “allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phony grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.
“Each subscriber was made to pay N1,800,000. Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31. His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.”
EFCC investigations revealed that the Ford Foundation had no affiliation, grant, association, or dealings with Ebonyi.
The Foundation explicitly disavowed any connection with him or his NGO, emphasizing their lack of association.
Additionally, the EFCC has traced five properties acquired by Ebonyi as proceeds from his illicit activities.
The anti-graft agency further stated that the suspect would face charges in court once investigations are concluded.
