By Ado Oyeyemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned religious leaders against diverting tithes, offerings, zakat and other funds belonging to religious organisations into their 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.
Olukoyede urged churches and mosques to establish effective regulatory and compliance systems to ensure that funds entrusted to them were properly managed.
He stressed that religious leaders had a responsibility to lead by example in the fight against corruption, noting that followers often model their conduct after that of their leaders.
The EFCC chairman cautioned religious leaders against mixing personal finances with funds belonging to their organisations.
According to him, religious leaders could engage in legitimate businesses such as farming or car sales, but should keep proceeds from such ventures separate from tithes, offerings and other funds donated to their religious organisations.
He said, “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.”
Olukoyede further said religious institutions had an important role to play in preventing corruption because they could shape character and promote honesty within society.
He noted that while the EFCC was empowered to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, religious institutions could help address the moral and ethical issues that often precede such offences.
The EFCC chairman also criticised the practice of celebrating unexplained wealth in places of worship, warning that religious leaders could inadvertently legitimise proceeds of crime by publicly honouring their owners.
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He cited a situation where a public servant allegedly built a mosque worth far more than his legitimate earnings and warned that religious leaders should be cautious about participating in ceremonies involving wealth whose source could not be explained.
