Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the involvement of some religious figures in financial crimes, saying the commission’s case files include suspects identified by titles such as pastor, imam, bishop and sheikh.
Olukoyede made the remarks on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in Abuja during the second 2026 Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), where an anti-corruption interfaith manual for religious leaders was also launched.
According to the EFCC chairman, some individuals bearing religious titles have been investigated and prosecuted for financial crimes, with some cases resulting in convictions and imprisonment.
He argued that religious titles should not shield anyone from accountability when there is evidence of criminal conduct.
‘Financial crime has no religion’
Olukoyede stressed that financial crimes should not be viewed through religious or ethnic identities.
He said corruption affects Nigerians regardless of whether they are Christians or Muslims and urged religious communities to play a stronger role in preventing fraudulent behaviour.
“Financial crime has no religion. Corruption has no tribe,” Olukoyede said, according to The PUNCH.
The EFCC chairman said the agency could investigate, prosecute and seek the recovery of illicit assets, but religious institutions could influence behaviour before criminal conduct occurs.
He therefore called on pastors, imams and other religious leaders to use their influence to promote honesty and discourage the pursuit of wealth without questioning its source.
EFCC questions use of religious titles
Olukoyede also questioned whether religious titles should continue to be attached to people who have been convicted of financial crimes.
He said the EFCC had encountered cases involving individuals who continued to be referred to as pastors, imams or other religious titles even after being convicted and imprisoned.
The chairman said this should prompt a wider discussion about the meaning and use of religious titles, particularly when individuals associated with those titles are accused or convicted of wrongdoing.
However, the remarks were directed at individuals involved in financial crimes and did not establish that religious leaders generally are involved in criminal activity.
Religious institutions urged to question unexplained wealth
The EFCC also challenged churches and mosques to reconsider how they respond to displays of unexplained wealth.
Olukoyede questioned the message sent when individuals whose wealth may not be easily explained are publicly celebrated or honoured by religious institutions.
He said faith communities should help challenge social attitudes that place wealth above integrity and should encourage followers to consider the source of money before celebrating it.
The position forms part of the EFCC’s broader preventive approach to financial crime, which seeks to involve religious and community institutions in anti-corruption education.
New interfaith anti-corruption manual launched
The NIREC meeting also provided a platform for the launch of a new anti-corruption interfaith manual designed for Christian and Muslim religious leaders.
The Executive Secretary of NIREC, Professor Cornelius Omonokhua, said the manual was developed through the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee of the EFCC.
He said the publication and accompanying facilitators’ guides were intended to help religious leaders communicate teachings against corruption while also promoting peaceful coexistence.
The initiative reflects an effort to move some aspects of Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign beyond investigations and prosecutions and into prevention through religious and community education.
Why the EFCC’s message matters
Religious institutions have significant influence in Nigerian society, with churches and mosques serving as major platforms for social guidance and community engagement.
The EFCC’s argument is that this influence can be used to discourage corruption and challenge attitudes that equate financial success with personal virtue without examining how wealth was obtained.
For the anti-graft agency, prevention is particularly important because investigations and prosecutions generally occur after alleged financial crimes have already taken place.
Olukoyede said faith communities could help address the values and behaviours that create an environment in which corruption becomes socially acceptable.
Government and religious leaders urged to work together
The meeting brought together senior representatives from Nigeria’s Christian and Muslim communities, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Daniel Okoh, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, also called for cooperation among religious leaders, traditional authorities and government institutions in addressing challenges affecting the country.
The discussions covered corruption as well as wider issues including insecurity, violence, kidnapping, communal clashes and terrorism.
What happens next
The EFCC is expected to continue working with Christian and Muslim organisations through its interfaith framework, including the use of the newly launched anti-corruption manual.
The agency’s message is that religious identity should not determine whether alleged financial misconduct is investigated or prosecuted, while religious institutions are being encouraged to contribute to preventing corruption through moral and civic education.
The broader challenge remains ensuring that anti-corruption messages delivered from churches and mosques are reflected in individual conduct, institutional accountability and the handling of unexplained wealth.
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Sources
- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — Remarks and anti-corruption engagement with religious leaders.
- The PUNCH — Report on the EFCC’s call for pastors and imams to strengthen anti-corruption preaching.
- The Guardian Nigeria — Report on Olukoyede’s concerns about religious leaders and financial crimes.
- Vanguard — Report on the EFCC chairman’s remarks at the 2026 NIREC meeting.
