The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, directed the church to return a donation worth billions of naira after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raised concerns about the source of the money.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this while speaking to RCCG workers on Saturday, November 7, during a meeting ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress.
According to Olukoyede, a church member had donated billions of naira towards one of RCCG’s projects. However, the commission later discovered during its investigation that the money was allegedly linked to proceeds of crime.
He said he personally took the matter to Adeboye after the EFCC established a connection between the donation and the individual under investigation.
Recounting Adeboye’s reaction, Olukoyede said:
“The reaction on the face of Daddy was like I was almost blaming myself for taking the matter to him. Daddy was visibly angry.”
He said Adeboye did not hesitate to instruct the church to return the money.
According to the EFCC chairman, the cleric told the church:
“I give you 24 hours. Everything you have traced to RCCG from this particular person who has been indicted, return it within the next 24 hours.”
Olukoyede said the church complied with the instruction and the money was returned to government coffers.
He added:
“That money was returned to the coffers of government. That is what RCCG is known for. That is who we are. We are not the custodian of proceeds of crime.”
The EFCC chairman used the incident to warn church leaders against accepting donations without paying attention to their sources. He said religious institutions should not provide cover for people seeking to legitimise money obtained through criminal activities.
He also questioned the practice of condemning corruption in government while overlooking similar conduct within religious institutions.
“We don’t have the right to accuse people in government of stealing money when some of us are doing worse things in the church. This must stop. That evil must stop,” he said.
Olukoyede further explained that churches do not necessarily have to turn away wealthy donors but must be careful not to allow their platforms to promote financial crimes.
He said:
“We are not saying we should send them away, but we must not use the altar to promote financial fraudulent activities.”
The EFCC chairman also recounted another case involving a church allegedly connected to a Ponzi scheme. He said the church leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually agreed to refund a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.
Although, Olukoyede did not disclose the identity of the RCCG donor, the exact amount returned or the specific project for which the donation was intended.
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