Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday said the anti-graft agency has uncovered a religious organisation laundering money for the terrorists wreaking havocs in the country.
Olukoyede, made this revelation during a one-day dialogue in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Speaking at a programme with the theme: “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption”, Olukoyede said the religious body was found culpable while protecting a money launderer after some money suspected to have been laundered was traced to the organisation’s bank account.
“A religious sect in this country had been found to be laundering money for terrorists. We were able to trace some laundered money to a religious organisation.”
“When we approached the religious organisation about it and we were carrying out our investigation, we got a restraining order stopping us from carrying out our investigation,” the EFCC boss said.
Olukoyede further stated that the EFCC was investigating a N13 billion fraud case when it discovered N7 billion linked to a religious body.
He said the organisation 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 was appealing the restraining order in order to recover the stolen funds.
He further said that another unnamed religious body was also linked to laundering money for a terrorist group responsible for the death of thousands of Nigerians.
There have been several claims that persistent terrorist actions disturbing the peace of Nigeria and other neighbouring countries are connected to religious activities even though the terror attacks have been directed against both churches and mosques in Nigeria.
For instance, In June 2022, a church, St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State. Scores of people were killed while many were injured.
Also, terrorists attacked worshippers in a mosque at Saya-Saya village in Ikara LGA of Kaduna State, killing seven people.
Five of the victims were gunned down in the mosque, while the remaining two other victims were killed at different locations within the area.