I have pastors, imams in EFCC detention, says Olukoyede

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says some religious leaders in Nigeria are currently in detention, while others have been convicted for fraudulent practices.

Olukoyede made the remarks on Wednesday at the Jerry Eze Foundation business grant award ceremony, where he spoke about corruption within religious institutions and the importance of personal integrity.

According to him, both Christian and Islamic institutions are not immune to corruption, noting that some pastors, bishops and imams have faced prosecution and conviction.

“I have a lot of them (religious leaders) in my holding facility as I’m talking to you. I have a lot of them that are convicted for fraudulent practices,” he said, adding that wrongdoing is ultimately a reflection of individual character rather than religious affiliation.

In August 2020, the federal government signed the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) into law.

Under the law, religious bodies and charity organisations will be strictly regulated by the registrar-general of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a supervising minister.

CAMA provides that the commission may by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest.

Many religious leaders, especially pastors, had rejected the law which they described as a declaration of war against the church.

The EFCC chairman disclosed that the commission had previously investigated Jerry Eze, founder and lead pastor of Streams of Joy International, over suspected money laundering after receiving intelligence reports about significant inflows into his accounts.

He said the probe, which lasted six months, tracked foreign transactions from countries including Colombia, the United States, Sri Lanka and Togo into the pastor’s domiciliary accounts.

“We saw dollars and pounds dropping in like raindrops,” Olukoyede said.

However, he said the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Olukoyede added that beyond enforcement, the EFCC also has a “preventive mandate”, which includes recognising individuals who demonstrate transparency and integrity in financial dealings.

“People identify us at the work we do with criminals, with suspects, and all of that,” he added.

“I also have preventive mandate. EFCC should also be identified with precious people who have integrity. We must drum them up.

The EFCC chairman described Eze as a person of integrity and deserving of a “letter of validation”.

He added, jokingly, that the letter will not be issued as the anti-graft commission will continue to monitor the pastor’s financial activities as part of its statutory mandate.