EFCC arrests pastor over N1.3b fake grants, money laundering

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the General Overseer of Faith on The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, for defrauding church members and other Nigerians of about N1.31 billion, using fake grants from the Ford Foundation.

Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20 billion to assist the less-privileged in the society.

He 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 N1.8 million.

Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in about N1.3 billion.

His subscribers were 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 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.

Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation.

EFCC’ s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, said the pastor would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.