Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the refund of billions of naira donated to a church project after the money was traced to proceeds of crime.
Olukoyede said Adeboye directed the church to return the funds within 24 hours after being informed that the donation came from an illicit source.
The EFCC chairman disclosed this while addressing RCCG workers in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, at a meeting organised by the church ahead of its annual Holy Ghost Congress.
According to Church Times Nigeria, Adeboye had “invited Olukoyede to address the workers on financial propriety and the need for churches to maintain transparent financial records.”
Recounting the incident, Olukoyede said “a church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but investigations later revealed that the money was proceeds of financial crime.”
He praised the cleric for his response, commending “Adeboye for ordering the refund shortly after the church was alerted.”
However, the EFCC chairman did not reveal the donor’s identity, the particular church project or the exact amount involved.
Olukoyede, an ordained pastor, also expressed concern over the growing number of financial crime cases involving religious leaders and allegations of irregularities surrounding contracts for church projects.
He warned “church workers against accepting suspicious donations and pursuing money through questionable means.”
The EFCC boss further recalled a separate case involving “another church allegedly implicated in a Ponzi scheme, saying its leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.”
The identities of the church and its leader, as well as details of the alleged scheme, were not disclosed.
He stressed that the commission would not grant religious leaders immunity, warning that the “commission would not spare anyone involved in financial crimes, regardless of their religious position or affiliation.”
Olukoyede also “cautioned church members against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, saying such tendencies could expose religious institutions to financial misconduct.”
He raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly offering bribes to secure leadership positions within the RCCG.
The EFCC chairman urged pastors to properly investigate the sources of donations before accepting them, emphasising that funds contributed towards church projects must not be proceeds of criminal activities.
Responding, Adeboye said the “RCCG would not protect anyone found to be involved in financial wrongdoing.”
The cleric also urged “pastors in the church to maintain clean financial records” and ensure that their activities were free from corruption.
, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the General Overseer){kind=link}