EFCC declares Christ Embassy pastor, wife wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a pastor of Believers Loveworld Incorporated aka Christ Embassy Pastor Onyinmiebi Bribena and his wife Beatrice wanted for allegedly defrauding Nigerians over N2 billion.

Bribena is also the chief executive officer of Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative, a Bayelsa-based Ponzi scheme.

A statement signed by EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said: “The general public is hereby notified that Onyinmiebi Bribena and Beatrice Bribena…are wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and Ponzi scheme to the tune of Two Billion Naira only.

“Bribena and Beatrice are both natives of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Their last known address is No 163 Mbiama Yenagoa Road, Biogbolo, Bayelsa State.”

The commission added that anybody with useful information as to their whereabouts should contact it via its offices nationwide or the nearest police station and other security agencies.

Bribena, who is a pastor at Christ Embassy Kumasi 1, Ghana, allegedly fled Nigeria last year after failing to pay investors their return on investment (ROI), leading to protests in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

The pastor had alleged that some staff of the cooperative compromised its systems by defrauding the organisation of over N300 million.

He added that the organisation was carrying out a forensic audit to enable it to pay the backlog of unpaid surpluses to the investors and members, a promise that was never fulfilled.

As of press time, Christ Embassy, which is overseen by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, had yet to react to the development.