Pastor Arrested By EFCC For Alleged Involvement in N1.3 Billion Fake Grants Scam

Category: Crime

Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, has been apprehended for allegedly swindling church members and other individuals out of more than N1.3 billion. The funds were purportedly collected as registration fees for grants falsely claimed to be from the Ford Foundation.

In a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it was revealed that Ebonyi has allegedly been deceiving members of his church, NGOs, and others with purported intervention projects valued at $2 billion from the Ford Foundation. Through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, he claimed to offer assistance to the less-privileged in society.

"He allegedly misled his victims into enrolling as beneficiaries of the fraudulent grant, convincing them to pay for registration forms and clusters," the statement said.

READ: Fake Army General Who Presented Himself As President Buhari's Next COAS To Dupe Bank Arrested (Photos)

"Each participant was required to pay N1,800,000 (One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only).

Through this scheme, Ebonyi purportedly amassed a total of N1,391,040,274.31. His victims include innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs throughout the country," stated the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.

However, the anti-graft agency clarified in its investigation that the Ford Foundation had no association, grant, connection, or business dealings with Ebonyi.

"The Foundation explicitly disavowed any connection with him and his NGO, emphasizing that it had no affiliation whatsoever. The Commission has also identified five properties he acquired as proceeds of his illicit activities."

"Reportedly, Ebonyi is still using certain social media platforms to promote his fraudulent grant from the Ford Foundation," added the EFCC.

The anti-graft agency stated that the cleric will face charges in court once the investigations are completed.