EFCC Says Some Religious Organizations Launder Money for Terrorists
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused some Nigerian churches and mosques of laundering money for terrorist organizations.
The EFCC chairman, Olaolukoyede, made this known in Abuja at a public engagement on youths, religion, the fight against corruption, and the launch of a fraud risk assessment process for ministries, departments, and agencies.
Olukoyede said a religious body has been linked to the laundering of funds for a terrorist organization in the country.
He said the EFCC is investigating $7 billion, suspected to be the proceeds of fraud against a religious organization.
The anti-graft agency says it stumbled on the alleged N7 billion fraud while it was investigating an N13 billion fraud case.
Read Also:
EFCC Chairman Accuses Some of The Agency’s Investigators of Taking Bribes
Olukoyede said the religious organization being investigated for the alleged $7 billion fraud had rushed to a court to obtain an order to restrain the EFCC from further investigating it.
Olukoyede, however, said that the anti-graft commission will not give up on the investigation of the religious body as it is appealing the restraining order to recover the stolen funds.
“No one will be spared, we’ll probe everyone who is suspected to be committing financial crimes, and these include members of the executive, legislative, and judiciary arms of government,” Olukoyede added.
Vice President, Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, where he spoke extensively about the need to curb corruption in government, and amongst young people.
Other dignitaries present at the dialogue were the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, former Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola, the Ọọni of Ifẹ, Ọba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, the Chairperson, Nigeria Committee of Vice Chancellors, Professor Lilian Salami, and the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.