The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith on The Rock Ministry International, on charges of fraud amounting to N1.3 billion.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Ebonyi allegedly orchestrated a fake grants scheme, claiming association with the Ford Foundation to deceive victims into contributing N1,800,000 each for non-existent grants.
The suspect purportedly utilized his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, as a front for the fraudulent activities, targeting hundreds of Nigerians and NGOs nationwide.
The deceitful scheme promised a $20,000,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to aid the less privileged.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that Ebonyi’s claims were baseless, as the Ford Foundation denied any connection with him or his NGO. The Foundation distanced itself, emphasising no existing arrangement, grant, relationship, or business with Mr. Ebonyi.
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In the course of the scam, Ebonyi allegedly amassed a staggering N1,391,040,274.31 from unsuspecting victims.
The EFCC has further traced five properties acquired by the suspect as proceeds from these illicit activities.