The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a clarification on the recent remarks made by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, regarding alleged money laundering involving religious sect leaders in Nigeria.
This comes in response to misleading reports, particularly from Arise News, and commentaries circulating in the media.
During a public engagement on Youth, Religion, and the Fight Against Corruption in Abuja on January 31, 2024, Olukoyede expressed concern about the involvement of some religious sect leaders in a pyramid scheme that fleeced over N30 billion from Nigerians. He mentioned tracing over N7 billion to a specific religious body, prompting the EFCC to write a letter to the sect’s leader.
However, the EFCC emphasized that Olukoyede did not mention a specific church or mosque, but rather referred to religious sects. The Chairman revealed that a restraining order was obtained, hindering the recovery of the traced funds, leading to further complications as victims suffered and some even lost their lives.
Olukoyede also disclosed a separate investigation during his tenure as Chief of Staff, where a particular religious sect was implicated in money laundering for terrorists. Despite his explicit focus on religious sects, some reports have mischievously misinterpreted his comments, creating confusion in the media.
In a bid to set the record straight, the EFCC stated that Olukoyede remains dedicated to tackling economic and financial crimes and will not be distracted by misinterpretations. The commission urged the public to ignore any sinister interpretations and emphasized that the Chairman’s comments were not directed at specific churches or mosques.
