The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered billions of naira in proceeds of financial crime donated to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) by a church member for one of its projects.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that the church’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the immediate refund of the money after the commission alerted him that the donation was linked to financial crime.
Olukoyede said Adeboye directed that the funds be returned within 24 hours, commending the cleric for refusing to allow the church to retain money suspected to have been illegally acquired.
The EFCC boss made the disclosure while addressing RCCG workers in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, during a meeting organised ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress.
According to Olukoyede, the donor was under investigation over financial transactions involving tens of billions of naira, with investigations revealing that some of the money had found its way into the church through donations for a project.
He said he personally approached Adeboye to explain the findings, prompting the cleric to summon some pastors and order the return of every amount traced to the individual.
The EFCC chairman said the money was subsequently returned to government coffers.
He, however, did not disclose the identity of the donor, the particular RCCG project involved or the exact amount refunded.
Olukoyede, who is also an ordained pastor, said he was concerned about the growing cases of financial crimes involving religious leaders and the use of churches to legitimise proceeds of crime.
He urged pastors and church workers to investigate the sources of donations before accepting them, warning against pursuing money through questionable means.
EFCC UNCOVERS ANOTHER CHURCH IN PONZI SCHEME
The EFCC chairman also revealed a separate case involving an unnamed mega church allegedly linked to a Ponzi scheme in which investors reportedly lost billions of naira.
He said the church leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.
Olukoyede warned that the commission would not spare anyone involved in financial crimes, irrespective of their religious status or affiliation.
He also raised concerns about materialism, unhealthy competition among churches and alleged bribery involving individuals seeking leadership positions within the RCCG.
The EFCC boss further disclosed that he once authorised the detention of a senior RCCG pastor over alleged financial crimes connected to the cleric’s secular workplace.
He described the decision as one of the saddest moments of his life but maintained that he could not ignore the evidence available to the commission.
Responding, Adeboye assured Olukoyede that the RCCG would not protect anyone found involved in financial wrongdoing.
He urged pastors in the church to maintain transparent financial records and ensure that their activities were free from corruption.
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