Prominent Pastor Arrested By EFCC For Alleged Involvement in ₦1.3 Billion Fake Grants

Officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, on charges of fraud.

According to a statement released by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the arrest is linked to allegations that Ebonyi orchestrated a scam using a fictitious grants scheme purportedly from the Ford Foundation, resulting in the defrauding of victims to the tune of N1,319,040,274.31.

The EFCC revealed that Ebonyi utilized his non-governmental organization (NGO), Theobarth Global Foundation, to deceive numerous Nigerians by falsely advertising non-existent grants.

Reportedly, Ebonyi falsely claimed that the Ford Foundation was providing a $20,000,000 grant to support the less-privileged in society. He allegedly convinced individuals to enroll as beneficiaries of this fabricated grant, instructing them to pay for registration forms and clusters, with each subscriber paying N1,800,000.

As a result of this fraudulent scheme, Ebonyi allegedly amassed N1,391,040,274.31. Notably, the victims targeted by Ebonyi include unsuspecting Nigerians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) nationwide.

EFCC investigations revealed that there was no actual arrangement, grant, relationship, or business between Ebonyi and the Ford Foundation. The Foundation explicitly disassociated itself from Ebonyi and his NGO, emphasizing that they had no connection whatsoever.

Additionally, the EFCC has identified five properties acquired by Ebonyi as proceeds of his illicit activities.