NIGERIA — Theophilus Ebonyi, General Overseer of Faith on the Rock Ministry International, has denied allegations of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a purported N1.3 billion fraud scheme.
In a video shared on his Facebook page shortly after the news broke, Ebonyi described the rumors surrounding his arrest as “false” and “circulated by bloggers.” The EFCC had released details of his alleged arrest along with his mugshot, stating he was apprehended for defrauding church members and others through fictitious grants linked to the Ford Foundation.
According to the EFCC, Ebonyi is accused of defrauding individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by promoting a fake grant of $20 million from the Ford Foundation. Victims were reportedly persuaded to pay registration fees of N1,800,000, resulting in alleged total earnings of N1,391,040,274.31 from unsuspecting individuals.
The EFCC further clarified that investigations revealed no connection between the Ford Foundation and Ebonyi’s NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation. The foundation has publicly disclaimed any relationship with him, and the EFCC has identified five properties acquired through these alleged fraudulent activities.
In response, Ebonyi reiterated that he has not been arrested, asserting, “I am here. The lion himself. I am the capacity. I am the naked wire. The rumor out there is fake. It is a lie.” He accused bloggers of using his image for personal gain.
However, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale countered Ebonyi’s claims, stating that he had indeed been arrested and later released on bail. Oyewale emphasized that the date of the arrest was deliberately omitted from the statement and confirmed that Ebonyi continues to reach out to his victims via social media.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about fraudulent schemes targeting unsuspecting individuals, particularly in the religious community.
