Crime
EFCC arrests pastor Theophilus Ebonyi for N1.3bn fraud, money laundering
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have arrested Theophilus Ebonyi, general overseer of Faith on the Rock Ministry International, over alleged fraud.
In a statement on Monday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC head of media and publicity, said the cleric defrauded members of his church and other Nigerians to the tune of N1,319,040,274.31 “using fake grants” from the Ford Foundation.
“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 $20,000, 000.000 (Twenty Billion United States dollars) to assist the less-privileged in the society,” the statement reads.
The antigraft agency said Ebonyi “beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phoney grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters”.
Oyewale said the cleric received the sum of N1.8 million from each subscriber.
“Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31. His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country,” he said.
Oyewale said investigations revealed that the Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship or business with Ebonyi.
He said the Ford Foundation “pointedly disclaimed” Ebonyi and his NGO, and said they had no links with them.
Oyewale said the commission has also traced five properties Ebonyi 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,” EFCC said.
The commission added that the pastor would be charged to court when investigations are concluded.
Crime
NDLEA arrests returning businessman for smuggling cocaine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a businessman identified as an ‘I Just Got Back’ returnee for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, shared videos of the seized contraband on X.com on Sunday.
The suspect, who had just returned from a foreign trip, initially raised suspicion due to his nervous demeanour.
NDLEA officials subjected him to a routine screening, during which wraps of cocaine began to fall from his body.
The statement said: “Narco-trend update: The moment #ndlea_nigeria officers intercepted an ‘I Just Got Back’ businessman, screened him, and wraps of cocaine began to ‘rain’ from his body. Who will tell them that NDLEA will always get them no matter the mode of concealment?”
Click the link below to watch the video:
Crime
Court jails ex-IMF chief Rodrigo Rato for tax fraud, corruption
A Madrid court on Friday sentenced former International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato to more than four years in prison for tax crimes, money laundering and corruption.
Judges found Rato who was also a former economy minister in Spain, guilty of “three offences against the treasury, one offence of money laundering and one offence of corruption between individuals,” the court announced in a statement.
Crime
Paul Pogba’s brother sentenced to prison over extortion
A Paris court on Thursday sentenced the brother of France midfielder, Paul Pogba, to a three-year prison term, with two years suspended, after convicting him in a high-profile extortion case.
Mathias Pogba will be able to serve his one-year sentence with an electronic bracelet rather than behind bars.
The court also fined Pogba’s brother 20,000 euros for participating in the attempted extortion of 13 million euros ($13.5 million) from Pogba in 2022, and for putting pressure on the player, his family and his business contacts to obtain the payment.
-
News1 week ago
‘I’ll live with this trauma all my life’ — Tijjani Babangida opens up on losing family in car accident
-
News7 days ago
Naseni’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Named 2024 Winner Of Daily Global Newspaper Conference Series Award For Science, Technology, Innovation, And Infrastructure
-
Relationships1 week ago
Four dating tips for single mum
-
Relationships5 days ago
‘I wish I met you before the wrong person’ – says Portable’s baby mama, Honey Berry, as she flaunts new lover
-
Politics1 week ago
Ibrahim Kashim resigns as Bauchi SSG
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Apostle Femi Lazarus, others top Spotify most streamed podcasts in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa
-
News6 days ago
Lagos state government shuts Lord’s Chosen Church, businesses across Lekki, VI, others over noise, environmental infractions
-
Politics1 week ago
Rep seeks increased participation of women in politics