How Pastor Adeboye ordered refund of billions in illicit donations inside 24 hours – EFCC boss

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the rapid refund of billions of naira donated to a church mission after the funds have been found to be proceeds of crime, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed.

Olukoyede disclosed that Adeboye directed the church to return the cash inside 24 hours after the anti-graft company alerted it that the donation got here from a bootleg supply.

The EFCC chairman made the revelation whereas addressing staff of the RCCG within the early hours of Saturday, November 7, 2026, throughout a gathering organised by the church forward of its annual Holy Ghost Congress.

According to report, Adeboye had invited Olukoyede to talk to church staff on monetary propriety, accountability and the necessity for non secular organisations to take care of clear monetary data.

How EFCC found the illicit funds

Recounting the incident, Olukoyede defined {that a} church member had donated billions of naira in the direction of one of many RCCG’s initiatives.

However, investigations by the EFCC subsequently established that the cash was proceeds of monetary crime.

Following the invention, the fee alerted the church to the questionable supply of the donation, prompting Adeboye to order its rapid return.

Olukoyede praised the cleric for guiding the refund shortly after the church acquired the knowledge, describing the response for example of the significance of integrity and accountability in non secular establishments.

The EFCC chairman, nonetheless, didn’t disclose the id of the donor, the actual RCCG mission concerned or the precise quantity returned. He solely confirmed that the donation amounted to billions of naira.

The incident underscores the dangers non secular organisations face when accepting giant donations with out correctly establishing the sources of the funds.

EFCC raises concern over monetary crimes in church buildings

Beyond the incident involving the RCCG, Olukoyede expressed concern over the rising variety of circumstances involving church leaders allegedly implicated in monetary crimes.

He disclosed that the fee had acquired a number of stories regarding monetary misconduct involving non secular organisations, together with allegations linked with contracts for church initiatives.

The EFCC chairman, who can also be an ordained pastor, mentioned such circumstances have been embarrassing and warned church staff in opposition to pursuing wealth by questionable means.

He additionally recalled a separate case involving one other church allegedly implicated in a Ponzi scheme.

According to him, the church chief initially resisted the fee’s intervention however finally refunded a considerable quantity after the EFCC threatened authorized motion.

Olukoyede warned that the fee wouldn’t spare anybody discovered concerned in monetary crimes, no matter their non secular place, affect or affiliation.

Olukoyede warns in opposition to bribery, management struggles

The EFCC boss additional cautioned church members in opposition to extreme materialism, unhealthy competitors and management struggles, saying such tendencies may expose non secular establishments to monetary misconduct.

He particularly raised considerations about stories of people allegedly providing cash to safe management positions inside the RCCG.

He warned that the pursuit of positions by monetary inducements and unhealthy competitors may undermine the integrity of spiritual establishments.

Olukoyede urged pastors to analyze the monetary backgrounds of people making substantial donations earlier than accepting their contributions.

He confused that church buildings should set up correct monetary accountability methods and be sure that cash acquired for non secular actions and initiatives comes from authentic sources.

Adeboye assures EFCC of RCCG’s place

Responding to the EFCC chairman’s remarks, Adeboye mentioned the RCCG wouldn’t shield anybody discovered concerned in monetary wrongdoing.

He additionally urged pastors throughout the church to take care of clear monetary data and be sure that their actions have been free from corruption.

The cleric’s response bolstered the church’s place on monetary accountability following the revelations in regards to the suspicious donation.

Olukoyede’s go to was a part of efforts to sensitise church staff on monetary propriety and the necessity for non secular establishments to cooperate with the battle in opposition to corruption.

The annual Holy Ghost Congress, forward of which the assembly was organised, is among the main programmes on the RCCG’s calendar.