EFCC nabs Pastor over alleged N1.3bn fake grants, money laundering – Newstrends
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EFCC nabs Pastor over alleged N1.3bn fake grants, money laundering

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EFCC nabs Pastor over alleged N1.3bn fake grants, money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Ebonyi, over allegation of defrauding church members and other Nigerians.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the pastor was arrested for allegedly using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1,319,040,274.31.

“Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO (Theobarth Global Foundation).

“Claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of 20 billion dollar to assist the less-privileged in the society.

“He allegedly beguiled 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).

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“Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31. (One Billion Three Hundred and Nineteen Million, Forty Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Four Naira, Thirty One Kobo).

“His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country,” he said.

Oyewale said that 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 is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation.

“He would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

EFCC nabs Pastor over alleged N1.3bn fake grants, money laundering

(NAN)

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N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8

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Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam

N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until May 8, 2024, the N3.1 billion money laundering case against former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.

This was contained in a circular issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has adjourned to 8th and 10th May 2024, for the continuation of the trial of the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, in the N3.1 billion money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,” the circular stated.

WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that it was alleged that Suswam attempted to influence the outcome of his trial by bribing the former judge handling the case, Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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According to sources, Suswam allegedly gave the judge the equivalent of N500 million (in foreign currency) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja in 2019.

The EFCC accused Suswam of selling shares belonging to the Benue State Investment and Property Company and diverting part of the proceeds (N3,111,008,018.51) to a company named Fanfash Resources, with a Zenith Bank account that belongs to Abubakar Umar, who operates a Bureau de Change in Abuja.

The sum was later withdrawn and converted into foreign currencies, allegedly handed over to the former governor at his residence.

N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8

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Why I killed my one-year-old son – Delta woman

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Sophia Nkwor

Why I killed my one-year-old son – Delta woman

One Sophia Nkwor has killed her one-year old son in Delta State, the police have said.

The 24-year-old woman was said to have ended the life of the baby after drowning him in a well late last month.

According to the police in the oil-rich southern State, the tragic incident happened in Araya community, Isoko South Local Government Area of the State.

She was paraded alongside suspects of various other crimes by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abaniwonda Olufemi, at the State Command’s headquarters, Asaba on Thursday.

Olufemi said: “On 28th of April 2024, a case of infanticide was reported at Oleh Division, that a suspect named Sofia Nkwor ‘f’ aged 24 years from Isoko South LGA, dumped her child of one year and one month old in a well along the road in Araya community Isoko South LGA.”

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He said the body of the abandoned child was found by children who went to play around the scene of the crime.

The commissioner of police confirmed the immediate arrest of the mother of the child.

Olufemi added that investigation was still ongoing.

Giving reasons for her actions, Sophia Nkwor disclosed that she decided to kill the child because she couldn’t fend for him.

She said the father of the child rejected him, adding that she was living with her grandmother in the community.

“l have no helper, it was only me that was taking care of the child

“I was the only one that was doing everything and l was tired of doing that.”

Why I killed my one-year-old son – Delta woman

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Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto

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Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto

At least nine Civilian Joint Task Force members fighting bandits in Sokoto State have been reportedly killed in an ambush, while an unspecified number sustained varying degrees of injury.

It was gathered that three CJTF members were also taken away by the bandits.

A source told our correspondent that the incident occurred last Sunday in Isa Local Government Area of the state.

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The CJTF source added that Isa LGA is a stronghold of bandits and very dangerous for security operatives.

“We lost nine members in an ambush in Isa LGA, many others were wounded and three others were abducted in the attack after our members received a distress call to support security operatives.

“We received the sad news two days ago. Since the beginning of this year, when we were asked by the state government to deploy our members to support the troops in the fight against banditry in the North-West.”

Recall that this was the second time bandits would ambush CJTF men in Sokoto State in two months.

Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto

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