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Court Orders Forfeiture of Pastor Ebonyi’s Hotel, School, Factory Over Alleged N1.39bn Fraud
Court Orders Forfeiture of Pastor Ebonyi’s Hotel, School, Factory Over Alleged N1.39bn Fraud
A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia has ordered the permanent forfeiture of multiple properties belonging to Pastor Theophilus Ebonyi, founder and General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, after ruling that the assets were acquired through proceeds of a large-scale fraud scheme estimated at about N1.39 billion.
The judgment followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which told the court that the forfeited properties were linked to funds traced to a fraudulent investment and fake grant operation allegedly run through Theobarth Global Foundation.
The court, presided over by Justice M.O. Olajuwon, held that the EFCC successfully established that the assets were derived from unlawful activities under the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. The judge further ruled that the defendant failed to provide credible evidence to justify legitimate ownership of the properties.
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The forfeited assets include a 23-room hotel and event centre in Nyanya Gwandara, a warehouse and sachet water factory in Karu, two office buildings, a primary school, and a bank account containing over N1 million. Authorities said these properties were either directly purchased or developed using proceeds from the alleged financial fraud scheme.
EFCC investigators told the court that Ebonyi was arrested in 2023 over allegations that he orchestrated a fraudulent scheme through Theobarth Global Foundation, where he promoted a fake $20 billion Ford Foundation grant. The commission said he falsely claimed affiliation with the internationally recognised Ford Foundation, a claim the organisation has publicly denied.
According to investigators, victims were made to pay about N1.8 million each as registration and processing fees, with promises of access to the non-existent grant. The EFCC stated that the scheme defrauded individuals and corporate bodies of approximately N1.39 billion before it was exposed.
With the court’s ruling, all listed assets have now been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of ongoing efforts to recover proceeds of crime and dismantle fraudulent investment networks.
The EFCC said the judgment marks a major step in the prosecution process and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that proceeds of advance fee fraud are recovered and returned to public ownership.
Authorities also cautioned members of the public against falling for fake grant schemes or investment programmes that promise unrealistic returns or falsely claim affiliation with reputable international organisations such as the Ford Foundation.
Court Orders Forfeiture of Pastor Ebonyi’s Hotel, School, Factory Over Alleged N1.39bn Fraud
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Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara
Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara
Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow has been killed in Zamfara State in what marks another significant development in the fight against banditry in Nigeria’s North-West.
The feared gang leader, who was linked to a series of deadly attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling operations across parts of Zamfara State, was reportedly killed in Anka Local Government Area.
However, conflicting accounts have emerged over the circumstances surrounding his death.
One report claimed that Sani Yellow was ambushed and shot dead at Dan Jibga Market by gunmen allegedly loyal to rival bandit kingpin Dogo Gide. The incident is believed to be connected to the growing power struggle among criminal gangs operating in the state, as rival factions continue to battle for dominance.
Another account attributed his death to a coordinated offensive by Nigerian security forces, supported by members of the Maiduguri Special Vigilantes deployed to reinforce ongoing counter-banditry operations in Zamfara. The operation was said to be part of sustained efforts to dismantle armed groups and eliminate high-profile criminal commanders.
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Kachalla Sani Yellow was widely regarded as one of the most influential bandit commanders in the Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru axes of Zamfara State. He was allegedly responsible for numerous attacks on rural communities, mass abductions for ransom, cattle rustling and violent raids that displaced thousands of residents.
His death is expected to weaken the operational capacity of his network, although security analysts have warned that splinter groups may launch reprisal attacks or seek to reorganise under new leadership.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigerian security agencies had yet to issue an official statement confirming the exact circumstances surrounding the bandit leader’s death.
Security operations have, however, continued across Zamfara and neighbouring states as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle remaining criminal networks and restore peace to communities affected by years of armed violence.
Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara
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BREAKING: 10 Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead following separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The latest wave of violence began on Saturday when the attackers reportedly invaded Akpachi village in the Ugboju community, killing two residents and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
Less than 24 hours later, in the early hours of Sunday, the gunmen allegedly struck again, this time attacking the Otukpo Nobi community, where eight more people were killed while many others sustained injuries.
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- BREAKING: 10 Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
The renewed attacks sparked protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo to express their frustration over the deteriorating security situation. The demonstrators called on both the Benue State Government and federal authorities to take urgent steps to end the recurring violence in the area.
The latest killings have heightened tension across Otukpo and surrounding communities, with many residents expressing fears over continued attacks and the apparent inability of security agencies to prevent them.
The incident comes barely one month after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, who were attacked and killed around Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area after attending a peace meeting in neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attacks or confirm whether any arrests had been made. Meanwhile, residents have appealed for increased security presence in the affected communities to prevent further loss of lives.
BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities
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Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali
Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali
A young Nigerian woman, Precious Godwin from Benin, Edo State, has recounted the harrowing ordeal she endured while crossing the Sahara Desert after fleeing an alleged trafficker in Mali, revealing that migrants were forced to drink urine to stay alive because they had no access to water.
Godwin shared her experience during an interview on the Abdullahi Tahir Balarae Podcast aired on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
According to her, she escaped from a woman she identified as Madam Gold in Bamako, Mali, before deciding to continue her journey towards Libya with the hope of eventually reaching Europe.
Describing the life-threatening conditions in the desert, Godwin said the travellers quickly ran out of water, leaving them severely dehydrated under the scorching Sahara sun.
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“We didn’t have water. The boys with us were begging us to urinate and give them to drink. If we wanted to urinate, they would cut a jerrycan and beg us to urinate inside so they could drink. I drank my own urine in the desert,” she said.
She explained that the desperate circumstances reduced survival to the group’s only priority, with many migrants resorting to drinking urine in a bid to stay alive as they battled extreme heat and dehydration.
Godwin’s account highlights the perilous journeys undertaken by many irregular migrants across the Sahara Desert, where a lack of food, water, and medical care, coupled with harsh environmental conditions, has claimed countless lives over the years.
Her testimony also underscores the dangers associated with human trafficking and irregular migration routes through North Africa, often controlled by criminal networks that expose migrants to exploitation, abuse, and life-threatening conditions.
Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali
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