By Ken Afor
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have disclosed details of how the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, defrauded members of the public to the tune of N1.3 billion using the renowned charity organization, Ford Foundation, based in the United States as a cover.
In a statement released on Monday by EFCC’s Spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, Ebonyi, who is currently in custody of the anti-graft agency, reportedly initiated a fake advertisement of a $20 billion intervention grant through his Theobarth Global Foundation under the guise that the grant was for less privileged individuals sponsored by the Ford Foundation.
According to the statement, Ebonyi successfully convinced his victims to sign up as beneficiaries of the fake grant, asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.
The anti-graft agency further revealed that each subscriber was required to pay N1.8 million for registration, unaware that they were enriching the pastor, who has amassed about N1.3 billion.
The EFCC further maintained that the Ford Foundation had no connection whatsoever with Ebonyi’s illicit and illegal financial dealings.
“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 EFCC statement read on Monday.
The antu-graft Commission noted that during the course of its investigation, five properties were traced to Ebonyi, which he acquired with the proceeds of the scam.
Curiously, according to the EFCC, despite the clergy man’s arrest, he is still reportedly reaching out to members of the public to further his fraudulent scheme via his networks.
The statement mentioned that the suspect would soon be arraigned once investigations are concluded.
