Court Orders Forfeiture of Hotel, School, Event Centre Linked to Pastor’s Fraud

Federal High Court rules assets traced to Theophilus Ebonyi, Faith On The Rock Ministry, are proceeds of crime, permanently forfeiting them to the government.

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By Maurice Angulu | Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The Federal High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has ordered the permanent forfeiture of multiple properties linked to Theophilus Ebonyi, the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, following findings that they were proceeds of fraud. The ruling comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) demonstrated that Ebonyi failed to prove legitimate ownership of the assets.

Assets Forfeited to the Federal Government
Presiding Judge M.O. Olajuwon ruled that the EFCC satisfied the requirements of Section 17(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, justifying permanent forfeiture. The properties seized include:

De Thinkers Home and Apartments: A 23-room hotel and event centre at New Layout, Abattoir Road First Gate, Nyanya Gwandara.
Warehouse and Sachet Water Factory: Located at No. 20 Philip Doda Street, Koroduma, Karu LGA.
Two Office Buildings: Situated on Philip Doda Street, Koroduma, Karu, near the Chapel of Redemption Church.
Theo International Academy Primary School: Located at Second Gate, Balogun Street, Nyanya Gwandara.
Bank Funds: N1,005,489.27 held in a First Bank account.

The judge noted that Ebonyi failed to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government. EFCC investigations revealed that funds were laundered through Theobarth Global Foundation, receiving money from victims of a Ponzi scheme.

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Details of the Fraud Scheme
In 2023, EFCC arrested Ebonyi for allegedly defrauding individuals and organizations of over N1.3 billion. He reportedly misled victims by claiming the Ford Foundation was providing a $20 billion grant to aid the poor.

Victims were asked to pay N1.8 million each for registration forms and cluster subscriptions through Theobarth Global Foundation. Investigations confirmed that the Ford Foundation had no connection with Ebonyi or his NGO. EFCC said Ebonyi raked in an estimated N139 billion from unsuspecting subscribers.

EFCC Statement on Forfeiture
The Commission emphasized that the court’s ruling sends a strong message against fraudulent schemes and misuse of funds. “The assets permanently forfeited include properties and cash, all traced to illicit activities perpetrated by the accused,” EFCC stated.

Legal Implications and Asset Recovery
The court’s decision strengthens ongoing efforts by the EFCC to recover proceeds of crime, particularly in cases involving complex financial fraud and Ponzi schemes. Authorities continue to monitor and trace funds linked to Ebonyi’s operations to ensure full restitution where possible.