The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has cautioned religious leaders against diverting tithes, offerings, zakat and other religious funds into private businesses.
EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC.
Olukoyede described such diversion as criminal and advised churches and mosques to set up regulatory compliance mechanisms to protect the funds entrusted to them.
He stressed that religious leaders must lead by example in the fight against corruption, because their followers copy their conduct.
“When the followers know that there is no difference between the money that is meant to propagate the faith that you stand for and your own personal resources, you miss everything together.
“You are not supposed to mingle in. That’s nothing that says you can’t do any other vocation. You sell cars, you are a farmer and all of that.
“Don’t mix the money from the purse of your organisation with that of your own personal money. Don’t do that. When money is paid to your organisation, don’t divert it to your business.
“That’s criminal and some of our adherents and followers see some of these things we do.”
The EFCC chairman noted that religious institutions carry an extraordinary responsibility. While the EFCC can investigate, conduct and prosecute fraud, he said, faith communities can shape character and cultivate honesty to prevent crime.
He also criticised worship centres that celebrate unexplained wealth.
“A public servant says he has built a mosque that is worth more than his earnings in the next 500 years. And you go there to dedicate it. You are dedicating the proceeds of crime,” he said.
