File photo of EFCC operatives
Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, a cleric, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for purportedly swindling church members and others through fake grants purportedly from the Ford Foundation, amounting to N1,319,040,274.31. Confirming the arrest in a statement issued on Monday, the EFCC stated that the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International allegedly deceived victims by promoting an intervention project through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a $20,000,000.000 (Twenty Billion United States Dollars) grant to aid the less-privileged in society.
“He allegedly lured his victims into subscribing as beneficiaries of the fake grant by soliciting payment for registration forms and clusters, with each subscriber required to pay N1,800,000 (One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only). Through this scheme, Ebonyi purportedly amassed N1,391,040,274.31. His victims include innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country,” the EFCC said.
“EFCC investigations revealed that the Ford Foundation had no association, grant, connection, or business dealings with Ebonyi. The Foundation expressly disavowed any connection with him and his NGO, emphasizing that it had no affiliation with them whatsoever. The Commission has also identified five properties he acquired as proceeds of his fraudulent activities.”
“Ebonyi is reportedly still reaching out to his victims through various social media platforms to promote his fraudulent grant from the Ford Foundation. He will be brought before the court once investigations are completed,” the EFCC added.
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