The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned religious leaders against channelling tithes, offerings, zakat and other religious funds into their private businesses.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
He described such diversion as a criminal act and urged churches and mosques to put in place proper regulatory compliance systems to safeguard funds entrusted to them.
Olukoyede stressed that religious leaders must set a good example in the fight against corruption, as their followers often copy their behaviour.
“When the followers know that there is no difference between the money that is meant to propagate the faith that you stand for and your own personal resources, you miss everything together,” he said.
“You are not supposed to mingle in. There’s nothing that says you can’t do any other vocation. You sell cars, you are a farmer and all of that.
“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 noted that while the EFCC can investigate and prosecute fraud, faith communities have a unique role in shaping character and promoting honesty to prevent crime in the first place.
He also criticised worship centres that celebrate unexplained wealth, citing cases where public servants fund lavish places of worship far beyond their known earnings.
“A public servant says he has built a mosque that is worth more than his earnings in the next 500 years. And you go there to dedicate it. You are dedicating the proceeds of crime,” he said.
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