Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has described as one of the saddest moments of his life the decision to order the detention of a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) over alleged financial crimes.
Olukoyede disclosed this while addressing church workers and ministers during the monthly Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption City of God, Simawa, Ogun State.
The programme, held at the invitation of RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, was themed “Ethical Standard and Corruption in Christian Community.”
The EFCC chairman, who is also a senior pastor in the church, said he had no option but to authorise the cleric’s detention based on evidence available to the commission. He stressed that the alleged misconduct was connected to the pastor’s secular workplace and not his activities within the church.
He urged churches to welcome everyone but cautioned against giving undue recognition to suspected fraudsters or using the pulpit to promote questionable sources of wealth.
According to him, materialism, covetousness and the love of money are major drivers of corruption within the Christian community.
The EFCC boss also commended Adeboye for his integrity and zero tolerance for corruption, recounting how the RCCG leader ordered the immediate refund of funds traced to church projects during an investigation involving tens of billions of naira.
He said the commission had investigated an individual over financial transactions and discovered that some of the funds had been traced to RCCG projects.
Olukoyede said he personally presented the findings to Adeboye, who immediately summoned some church officials and directed them to return within 24 hours all funds traced to the church from the individual under investigation.
He said the money was subsequently returned to government coffers, describing Adeboye’s response as a demonstration of his commitment to accountability.
The EFCC chairman contrasted the RCCG’s response with the alleged handling of a similar situation by another unnamed mega church, where individuals accused of fraud operated an investment scheme that reportedly cost members billions of naira.
He condemned religious leaders who defend or justify proceeds of crime, insisting that churches must uphold accountability regardless of the status of those involved.
Olukoyede also condemned the practice of offering or receiving money in exchange for church ordination and promotion, describing such acts as bribery and abuse of office.
He warned that both those who offer money and those who receive it are criminally liable.
The EFCC chairman further challenged anyone who had offered him a bribe that he accepted in the course of his duties to come forward.
He said he had spent 10 years working with the anti-graft agency, serving as Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Commission and eventually its chairman.
Olukoyede urged Christians to uphold the same standards of accountability they demand from public office holders, warning that corruption within religious institutions undermines the credibility of the church.
He expressed confidence that RCCG could become a global model of integrity if its members embraced righteousness, holiness and accountability.