The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody Theophilus Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, on charges of defrauding church members and other individuals.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Monday in Abuja, the pastor stands accused of orchestrating a fraud scheme involving fake grants from the Ford Foundation amounting to N1,319,040,274.31.
The statement revealed, “Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising non-governmental organisations and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20 billion to assist the less-privileged in the society.
“He allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phoney grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters. Each subscriber was made to pay N1,800,000.
“Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31.
“His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.” Oyewale said investigations revealed that the Ford Foundation had no connection or business dealings with the general overseer.
“The Foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them.
“The commission has also traced five properties he acquired as proceeds of his criminal dealings.
“Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation.
“He would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.