At the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter‑Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede warned that pastors, imams, bishops, sheikhs and other religious leaders have been investigated, prosecuted and convicted for financial crimes in Nigeria.
Olukoyede said the commission’s case files contain numerous suspects identified by religious titles, with some already serving prison sentences. He noted that even while incarcerated, many continue to be addressed by those titles, saying, “And while in jail, they still refer to them as pastor and imam.”
“So many case files, pastor, imam indicted for financial crimes. And some of them are even badly convicted, and they are in jail,” Olukoyede told the gathering.
The chairman called for a review of how religious titles are conferred, arguing that titles should not become a shield against accountability. He stressed that genuine spirituality should be measured by conduct and integrity rather than outward appearance, adding that “the spirit of God is by their fruits, not their appearance.”
Olukoyede warned that no one is immune from prosecution because of religious status, recalling an incident where a suspect demanded to be treated according to his self‑claimed titles of “reverend, doctor, bishop.” The EFCC, he said, focuses on the allegations, not the titles. He also highlighted that investigations into a pilgrimage board during his tenure as Chief of Staff uncovered that roughly 75 percent of funds meant for pilgrims were allegedly stolen, urging faith communities to promote honesty and refrain from celebrating unexplained wealth.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
