Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it has arrested the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, for alleged fraud.
In a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Monday, the suspect reportedly defrauded his church members and other Nigerians using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1, 319,040,274.31( One Billion Three Hundred and Nineteen Million, Forty Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Four Naira, Thirty One Kobo).
It said the victims were Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other unsuspecting Nigerians
The statement noted that the Suspects perpetuated the act by advertising an intervention project through his NGO( Theobarth Global Foundation) claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20,000, 000. 000( Twenty Billion United State Dollars) to assist the less-privileged in the society.
According to the statement, “He(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( One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only). Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31. His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.
“Investigations by the EFCC showed that Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship or business with Ebonyi. The Foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them. The Commission has also traced five properties he acquired as proceeds of his criminal dealings.
