By George Omagbemi
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the involvement of some religious leaders in financial crimes, saying pastors, imams, bishops and sheikhs feature among people investigated and prosecuted by the anti-graft agency.
Olukoyede made the disclosure on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in Abuja, at the second 2026 Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), where an Anti-Corruption Interfaith Manual was launched.
The EFCC chairman said his case files contain religious figures who have been investigated and prosecuted for financial crimes, with some cases resulting in convictions and prison sentences.
“My case files are full of pastors, imams, bishops and sheikhs,” Olukoyede said, stressing that religious titles should not protect anyone from accountability when financial crimes are involved.
He also questioned the practice of celebrating individuals who display unexplained wealth through religious donations, urging churches and mosques to examine the sources of substantial contributions received from wealthy individuals.
According to him, religious institutions should not become channels through which questionable wealth is legitimised or celebrated.
Olukoyede further raised concerns about corruption within some pilgrim-board activities, alleging that certain officials had become enablers of financial misconduct involving funds meant for religious pilgrimages.
He emphasised that financial crime has no religion, ethnicity or political affiliation, warning that corruption ultimately affects society as a whole.
The EFCC chairman urged religious leaders to use their influence to promote integrity, accountability and responsible attitudes towards wealth.
His remarks have renewed attention on the responsibility of religious institutions to scrutinise financial dealings and discourage the use of religious status to shield individuals from accountability.
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