Abuja General Overseer In EFCC Net After Defrauding Church Members N1.3 Billion

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus O. Ebonyi, for allegedly defrauding church members and other Nigerians the sum of N1.3bn

The commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the General Overseer was arrested by EFCC operatives after deceiving victims that he was offering grants from his Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) through assistance from Ford Foundation.

Oyewale said Ebonyi had advertised an intervention project through his NGO, known as Theobarth Global Foundation.

He claimed that Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20m to assist the less-privileged in the society.

The spokesman said: “He allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phony grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.”

The commission said each subscriber was made to pay N1.8m.

“Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1.3bn from such innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country,” Oyewale stated.

Meanwhile, investigations by the EFCC showed that Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship or business with the accused.

EFCC revealed further that the foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them.

The anti-graft agency also traced five properties he acquired using proceeds of his alleged criminal dealings.

EFCC noted that the accused was still allegedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation, but the Commission said he would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.