The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed the arrest of Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, leaving his members and Nigerians befuddled.
Operatives of the anti-graft Agency picked Ebonyi for defrauding church members and other Nigerians to the tune of N1, 319,040,274.31(One Billion Three Hundred and Nineteen Million, Forty Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Four Naira, Thirty One Kobo) through fake grants from the Ford Foundation.
EFCC investigation revealed that the suspect told EFCC that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20,000, 000 (Twenty Billion United State Dollars) to assist the less-privileged in the society
The agency accused him of deceiving 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 N1,800,000 (One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only. 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.
Ebonyi would appear in Court as soon as investigations are concluded, according to EFCC statement published on its website.
It also said the Church leader has started reaching out to his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation.
[8:21 pm, 05/02/2024] +234 803 920 8001: Customs beg family of murdered teen in anti-smuggling operation
Nigeria Customs Service has stated its position on the tragic incident surrounding the murder of teenager on Saturday February 3, 2024 during anti smuggling operation at Jibia Border Area of Katsina State.
In a statement on Monday, the Spokesman of the Agency, CSP Abdullahi Maiwada alleged that the victim was crushed to death by a reckless driver of a J5 vehicle whose Registration was not given.
He said, “preliminary reports suggest that the J5 vehicle was transporting soya beans, and the driver is currently in Police custody pending further investigation”.
CSP Maiwada , offered heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the innocent teenager whose life was tragically cut short.
He also clarified that “operatives of the Nigeria Customs neither drove the J5 vehicle nor intercepted it during the reported incident”, which flared tempers amongst Nigerians.
“We wish to clarify that our operatives neither drove the J5 vehicle nor intercepted it during the reported incident, contrary to some press allegations of the involvement of our Officers.
“Preliminary reports suggest that the J5 vehicle was transporting soya beans, and the driver is currently in Police custody pending further investigation.
“We wish to clarify that our operatives neither drove the J5 vehicle nor intercepted it during the reported incident, contrary to some press allegations of the involvement of our Officers.
“The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, alongside the officers and men of the service, expresses profound sympathy with the bereaved”, CSP Maiwada stressed.
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, headquartered in Kaduna, covers 10 States and the Federal Capital Territory, including Katsina, where the Jibia border is situated.
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