[PICTORIAL] N1.3bn fraud: General Overseer acquired hotel, others with subscribers’ funds – EFCC

PUNCH

Investigations  by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has revealed fresh facts on the alleged criminal activities of the General Overseer of Faith on the Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus  Ebonyi.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on the commison’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Ebonyi acquired a 23-room hotel, a pure water factory,  two blocks of a primary school with the proceeds of his alleged fraudulent dealings with his subscribers.

Others include a two bungalow office  at Nyanya-Gwandara, New Karu. Abuja and a five-bedroom duplex at Karsana, Abuja.

Ebonyi was also said to have set up a live broadcast channel with studio equipment for his Theobarth Global Foundation with the funds of his subscribers.

The general overseer was arrested  in 2023 by the EFCC for allegedly defrauding his church members and other Nigerians using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1, 319, 040,

He was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO (Theobarth Global Foundation) claiming that the Ford Foundation  was offering a grant of $20bn to assist the less-privileged in the society.

The statement read, “Fresh facts have emerged about the alleged criminal activities of the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi,  recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“He allegedly hoodwinked his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phony grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters. Each subscriber was made to pay N1.8m. Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31.

“His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.

“Investigations by the EFCC showed that Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant,  relationship or business with Ebonyi.  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.