The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned religious leaders against diverting tithes, offerings, zakat and other funds belonging to churches and mosques into their private businesses.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
Olukoyede said religious institutions should establish proper financial controls and compliance mechanisms to ensure that money entrusted to them is used for its intended purposes.
He specifically warned religious leaders against mixing organisational funds with their personal finances, noting that owning private businesses was not prohibited but funds belonging to religious organisations must remain separate.
“Don’t mix the money from the purse of your organisation with that of your own personal money. Don’t do that. When money is paid to your organisation, don’t divert it to your business. That’s criminal.”
The EFCC chairman said religious leaders had an important role to play in Nigeria’s fight against corruption because their conduct could influence the behaviour and values of their followers.
He said the fight against corruption should begin with leaders demonstrating integrity in the management of funds entrusted to them.
“When the followers know that there is no difference between the money that is meant to propagate the faith that you stand for and your own personal resources, you miss everything together.”
Olukoyede stressed that religious leaders could engage in legitimate businesses and other occupations, but should maintain a clear separation between their personal resources and money belonging to their organisations.
He said religious institutions had a responsibility that went beyond the work of law enforcement agencies.
According to him, while the EFCC can investigate and prosecute financial crimes, churches and mosques can help prevent corruption by shaping the character and values of their members.
The EFCC chairman also criticised the practice of celebrating individuals whose sources of wealth cannot be explained, particularly when religious institutions honour such individuals.
He gave the example of a public official who builds an expensive mosque despite an apparent disparity between the value of the structure and the person’s legitimate earnings.
“A public servant says he has built a mosque that is worth more than his earnings in the next 500 years. And you go there to dedicate it. You are dedicating the proceeds of crime.”
Olukoyede urged Christian and Muslim leaders to question unexplained wealth rather than give it social or religious recognition.
He said financial crime has no religion or tribe, stressing that both Christian and Muslim communities are affected when public or private funds are stolen.
The meeting also focused on the role of religious institutions in strengthening ethical conduct and supporting the wider anti-corruption campaign.
The EFCC has continued to engage religious and other non-governmental institutions as part of efforts to prevent financial crimes, including through its work with organisations covered by Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework.
Olukoyede’s latest warning places particular emphasis on financial accountability within religious organisations, urging churches and mosques to put mechanisms in place to protect donations and other funds entrusted to them.
How did this story make you feel?
Join the conversation
Share a thoughtful response. Submissions may be reviewed before appearing.
