EFCC Traces N7 Billion Suspected Fraud Proceeds To Religious Body

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Barrister Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the agency traced N7 billion, suspected to be proceeds of fraud, to religious organisation.

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 (MDAs), Olukoyede stated that the EFCC was investigating a N13 billion fraud case when it discovered N7 billion linked to a religious body.

He added that the organization quickly obtained a restraining order to prevent the EFCC from inviting its leaders.

Olukoyede further said the commission will not give up on the investigation as it is appealing the restraining order in order to recover the stolen funds.

He further said another unnamed religious body was also linked to be laundering money for a terrorist body, which has been killing and destroying Nigerians and Nigeria for a long time now.

The EFCC chairman also revealed that since his assumption of office as the EFCC chairman about three months ago, the commission has secured 747 convictions.

Lamenting the high number of convictions, the EFCC chairman said most of them were from Internet related offences.

It would be noted that the one–day event is aimee at addressing the challenges of youth involvement in cybercrimes and how religion could be used as a weapon for their reorientation.

The event had the theme: “Youth, Religion and the Fight Against Corruption” and it featured launch of the Interfaith Preaching and Teaching Manual developed by the Interfaith Anti-corruption Advisory Committee (IAAC) of the Commission as a resource to promote abhorrence for corruption among adherents of the two religions: Islam and Christianity.

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