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.
‘EFCC INVESTIGATED JERRY EZE’
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.
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