Adeboye Ordered Refund of Billions in Illicit Donations — EFCC Boss

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the refund of billions of naira donated to a church project after the funds were discovered to be proceeds of financial crime.

Olukoyede said Adeboye directed that the money be returned within 24 hours of the church being informed about its source.

The EFCC chairman made the disclosure while addressing RCCG workers in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, at a meeting organised ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress.

According to Church Times Nigeria, Adeboye had invited Olukoyede to speak to the workers about financial propriety and the importance of maintaining transparent financial records in religious institutions.

Recounting the incident, Olukoyede said a church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but investigations later established that the funds were proceeds of financial crime.

He praised Adeboye for ordering the refund shortly after the church was alerted to the illicit source of the donation.

However, Olukoyede did not identify the donor, disclose the specific church project or state the exact amount involved.

The EFCC chairman, who is also an ordained pastor, expressed concern over cases involving religious leaders accused of financial crimes and allegations surrounding contracts for church projects.

He warned church workers against accepting suspicious donations or seeking money through questionable means.

Olukoyede also recalled a separate case involving another church allegedly linked to a Ponzi scheme. He said 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 name of the church or provide further details about the alleged scheme.

The EFCC boss warned that the commission would not spare anyone involved in financial crimes, irrespective of their religious position or affiliation.

He also cautioned church members against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, noting that such tendencies could expose religious institutions to financial misconduct.

Olukoyede further raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly offering bribes to secure leadership positions within the RCCG.

He urged pastors to investigate the sources of donations before accepting them, stressing that contributions towards church projects must not be proceeds of criminal activities.

Responding, Adeboye said the RCCG would not shield anyone found involved in financial wrongdoing.

He also urged pastors to maintain proper financial records and ensure that their activities remained free from corruption.