EFCC Uncovered Religious Sect Laundering Money For Terrorists

BY CHIGOZIE EZEH

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday revealed that the anti-graft agency uncovered how a religious sect in Nigeria is laundering money for terrorists.

This was as he also revealed that another religious body was found to be protecting a money launderer after some money suspected to have been laundered was traced to the organisation’s bank account.

Speaking during a public engagement on youth, religion, and the fight against corruption, as well as the launch of the fraud risk assessment project for ministries, departments, and agencies, Olukoyede stated that the EFCC was investigating a N13bn fraud case when it discovered that N7bn of the N13bn was linked to a religious body’s bank account.

He noted that religious organisations, institutions, sects, and bodies have been found culpable of money laundering.

According to Olukoyede, the religious organisation quickly obtained a restraining order to prevent the EFCC from probing its leaders.

The EFCC Chairman stated that the commission will not give up on the investigation as it is appealing the restraining order to recover the stolen funds.

The one-day event is aimed at addressing the challenges of youth involvement in cybercrimes and how religion could be used as a weapon for their reorientation.

The event, themed “Youth, Religion and the Fight Against Corruption,” featured the launch of the Interfaith Preaching and Teaching Manual developed by the Interfaith Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee of the Commission as a resource to promote abhorrence for corruption among adherents of Islam and Christianity.

The EFCC’s Fraud Risk Assessment Prevention and Control Project for Ministries, Departments and Agencies was also launched at the event.