General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, reportedly ordered the refund of billions of naira donated to a church project after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced the money to proceeds of financial crime.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Saturday while addressing RCCG workers ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress.
According to Church Times Nigeria, Adeboye had invited Olukoyede to speak to church workers on financial propriety, transparency and the importance of maintaining proper financial records.
Recounting the incident, the EFCC chairman said an individual had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but subsequent investigations by the commission established that the funds were proceeds of financial crime.
He said the church immediately responded after being alerted to the findings, with Adeboye directing that the entire donation be returned within 24 hours.
Olukoyede commended the cleric for the decision, describing the response as an example of how religious institutions should handle questionable financial contributions.
The EFCC chairman, however, did not identify the donor, disclose the particular church project involved or state the exact amount refunded.
He expressed concern over the increasing involvement of religious figures in financial misconduct, including allegations relating to contracts awarded for church projects.
Olukoyede warned church workers against accepting suspicious donations or pursuing financial gains through questionable means, stressing that religious institutions must not become channels for laundering proceeds of crime.
He also recounted a separate case involving another church allegedly associated with a Ponzi scheme.
According to him, the church leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.
He did not disclose the identity of the church or provide further details about the alleged scheme.
The EFCC chairman warned that the commission would pursue anyone involved in financial crimes, irrespective of religious affiliation, position or influence.
He also cautioned church members against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, arguing that such tendencies could encourage financial impropriety within religious organisations.
Olukoyede further raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly offering bribes to secure leadership positions within the RCCG.
He urged pastors to establish the sources of substantial donations before accepting them, insisting that money contributed towards religious projects must not originate from criminal activities.
Responding, Adeboye reportedly declared that the RCCG would not shield anyone found guilty of financial wrongdoing.
He urged pastors across the church to maintain transparent financial records and ensure that their activities remained free from corruption.
The EFCC chairman’s disclosure comes amid renewed scrutiny of financial accountability within religious organisations and the responsibility of church leadership to ensure that donations and project funds are derived from legitimate sources.
