The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused certain Nigerian churches and mosques of laundering money for terrorist organizations. EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed on Wednesday that N7 billion suspected to be proceeds of fraud has been traced to a religious organization in Nigeria. At a public engagement on youth, religion, and the fight against corruption, Olukoyede stated, “We were investigating a fraud case of N13 billion when we traced N7 billion to this religious body.”
Despite the religious organization obtaining a restraining order to halt EFCC from questioning its leaders, Olukoyede asserted that the anti-graft commission will persist in investigating and is appealing the order to recover the stolen funds. He further disclosed, “Another unnamed religious body was also linked to money laundering for a terrorist organization that has been causing harm to Nigerians for a long time.” In the three months since assuming office, Olukoyede noted that the EFCC has secured a total of 747 convictions.
