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 private businesses.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
Olukoyede described the diversion of religious funds for private purposes as a criminal offence and urged churches and mosques to establish effective regulatory and compliance mechanisms to safeguard funds entrusted to them.
He stressed that religious leaders must lead by example in the fight against corruption, noting that followers often emulate the conduct of their leaders.
“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 said.
He clarified that religious leaders were not prohibited from engaging in legitimate businesses or other vocations, but warned them against mixing personal finances with funds belonging to their religious organisations.
“You are not supposed to mingle in. That’s nothing that says you can’t do any other vocation. You sell cars, you are a farmer and all of that.
“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 and some of our adherents and followers see some of these things we do.”
The EFCC chairman also highlighted the responsibility of religious institutions in preventing corruption, saying the commission could investigate, conduct and prosecute fraud, while faith communities had an important role to play in shaping character and promoting honesty.
He further criticised the practice of celebrating unexplained wealth in religious communities.
“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,” he said.
Olukoyede urged religious leaders to promote accountability and integrity within their institutions and ensure that funds donated for religious purposes were used for their intended objectives.
Credit: Ochogwu Sunday
