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