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Published on 2024-01-31 11:52:29
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has made shocking revelations about the involvement of religious organizations in Nigeria in money laundering for terrorists. Olukoyede exposed that a religious sect and another religious organization were involved in the illegal activity of money laundering for terrorists in the country. The EFCC boss disclosed that upon tracing the laundered money to the bank account of the religious organization, they were prevented from pursuing the investigation due to a restraining order.
Olukoyede made the revelation during a one-day dialogue organized by the EFCC on “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption” at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, January 31. He emphasized that religious institutions, bodies, organizations, and sects are also culprits of money laundering. He stressed that religious establishments are not exempt from involvement in such illegal activities.
This exposes the shocking reality of the involvement of religious institutions in financial crimes and their hindering of investigations whenever they are implicated. Despite the efforts of the EFCC to combat corruption and money laundering, the influence of religious organizations has served as an obstacle to their investigations, as demonstrated by the restraining order.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Bola Tinubu’s minister of budget and national planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as the immediate past minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola. The dialogue was part of the ongoing campaign by the EFCC against corruption, money laundering, and other criminal activities among the youth.
The EFCC’s revelation has shed light on the need for closer scrutiny of financial transactions involving religious organizations and greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies and religious institutions to combat money laundering and other financial crimes. This will be vital in ensuring that religious organizations are not exploited to fund illegal activities, including terrorism.
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