The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, reportedly ordered the refund of billions of naira donated to a church project after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced the money to proceeds of financial crime.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that Adeboye directed church officials to return the funds within 24 hours after the commission alerted the church to their criminal source.
Olukoyede made the revelation while addressing RCCG workers on Saturday, during a meeting organised ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress.
According to Church Times Nigeria, Adeboye had invited the EFCC chairman to speak to church workers about financial propriety, accountability and the importance of maintaining transparent financial records.
How Adeboye Ordered the Refund
Recounting the incident, Olukoyede explained that a church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project before investigations revealed that the money originated from financial crimes.
He commended Adeboye for ordering the immediate return of the funds after the church was informed of their source.
However, the EFCC chairman did not disclose the donor’s identity, the specific church project involved or the exact amount refunded.
Olukoyede, who is also an ordained pastor, expressed concern over cases involving religious leaders implicated in financial crimes and allegations surrounding contracts for church projects.
He warned church workers against accepting suspicious donations or pursuing money through questionable means.
EFCC Warns Churches Against Suspicious Donations
The EFCC chairman also recalled a separate case involving another church allegedly implicated in a Ponzi scheme.
According to him, the church’s leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.
Although he withheld the identities and further details of those involved, Olukoyede warned that the commission would not spare anyone implicated in financial crimes, regardless of their religious position or affiliation.
He further cautioned church members against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, warning that these tendencies could expose religious institutions to financial misconduct.
Olukoyede also raised concerns about allegations of individuals offering money to secure leadership positions within the RCCG.
He urged pastors to investigate the sources of donations before accepting contributions towards church projects, stressing the importance of ensuring that such funds were not proceeds of criminal activities.
Adeboye Responds to EFCC Chairman’s Warning
Responding to the EFCC chairman’s remarks, Adeboye said the RCCG would not protect anyone found to be involved in financial wrongdoing.
He also urged pastors within the church to maintain clean financial records and ensure that their activities remained free from corruption.
The EFCC chairman’s disclosure has renewed attention on financial accountability within religious institutions, particularly the responsibility of churches to scrutinise donations and prevent the use of their platforms to legitimise proceeds of crime.
