Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have commenced profiling of some individuals, organisations and groups before they are being entrusted to handle issues of grants made available by the international donors and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The development came amid growing concerns that some handlers of grants, including some Non-Governmental Organisations have defrauded some beneficiaries of the grants through different means.

Daily Trust reports that in 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested one Theophilus Ebonyi for allegedly defrauding victims, including individuals and organisations, of over N1.3 billion.

He reportedly lured his victims through the advertisement that the Ford Foundation was purportedly providing a grant of $20 billion to aid the poor.

Ebonyi, who was said to have carried out the publicity through Theobarth Global Foundation, allegedly hoodwinked his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phony grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.

The anti-graft agency said each subscriber was made to pay N1.8 million, adding that through the scheme Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1.39 billion from unsuspecting individuals and non-governmental organisations.

EFCC said its investigations also 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.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, finally ordered the permanent and final forfeiture of a slew of landed properties located in parts of Nasarawa State bordering the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to the federal government.

Addressing journalists shortly after a close-door meeting with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 headquarters, Abuja, Victor Olaiya, Head of Advocacy, Grassroots Bridge Builders, Ibrahim Igoche, disclosed that a team has been constituted to work across 36 States.

The AIG was represented at the meeting by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Administration at the Zone, Adetunde Adeola.

Igoche said, “Today, we’re gathered here at the AIG office Zone 7 headquarters, to address the issue of the grant saga in Nigeria.

“We have been properly briefed and we have given an opportunity, and this is to the world, particularly all members of the grants community, that hope is not lost.

“It is clear today that everybody that has subscribed to grants in Nigeria that have no legal documents or basis or foundation, we now have a basis.

“A team has been constituted by the AIG Zone 7 to work with the 36 States, 774 Local Government Areas to profile the people who are members of grant communities which include members of organisations, NGOs, cluster heads and the beneficiaries.” (Weekend Trust)