The EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has urged religious leaders to fight corruption, warning that religious titles cannot shield anyone from prosecution.
Olukoyede spoke at the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, in Abuja, where he expressed concern over the involvement of some religious figures in financial crimes.
He said pastors, imams, bishops, sheikhs and other religious leaders had been investigated, prosecuted and convicted for financial offences, stressing that the law should apply to everyone regardless of religious status.
Olukoyede recounted an encounter with a suspect who introduced himself as a “reverend, doctor, bishop” while seeking to meet him during an investigation.
He said the suspect’s titles had no bearing on the allegations being investigated, adding that he would prosecute any pastor or other religious leader who committed a financial crime.
Also Read: Sultan warns against stealing to please God
The EFCC chairman also questioned whether religious commitment was reflected in Nigerians’ conduct, particularly in their handling of public and private resources.
He urged religious communities to discourage the celebration of unexplained wealth and avoid providing moral cover for corrupt practices.
Olukoyede cited an investigation involving a pilgrimage board in which he alleged that almost 75 per cent of funds meant for pilgrims had been stolen.
He said financial crime had no religion or ethnicity and called on religious leaders to use their influence to promote integrity and change attitudes toward corruption.
The EFCC chairman stressed the importance of NIREC in addressing issues arising from Nigeria’s religious diversity and urged the council to make accountability part of its broader engagement with religious communities.
NAN
