Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Agency Denies Accusations of Church and Mosque Involvement in Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clarified recent statements made by its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, regarding money laundering by religious sects. The agency emphasized that the groups in question were not affiliated with any specific church or mosque, dispelling misconceptions surrounding the issue.

The EFCC denounced the misinterpretation of Olukoyede’s remarks as malicious and urged the public to disregard such insinuations. According to EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the chairman remains steadfast in combatting economic and financial crimes and will not be swayed by distractions.

During a public engagement on ‘Youth, Religion and the Fight Against Corruption’ in Abuja, Olukoyede expressed concern over the involvement of certain religious sect leaders in money laundering activities. He cited a case involving the misappropriation of over N30 billion, leading to fatalities and a subsequent discovery of funds linked to a religious group. Despite efforts to recover the money, a restraining order impeded the process, prompting the chairman to highlight the challenges faced in addressing financial misconduct within religious institutions.

Oyewale reiterated that Olukoyede did not implicate any specific church or mosque in his statements, emphasizing that the chairman’s comments had been distorted to imply involvement of religious entities.

The EFCC’s stance serves to clarify the context of the chairman’s remarks and dispel any misconceptions regarding the agency’s efforts to combat financial crimes in Nigeria.

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