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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

EFCC Investigated Pastor Jerry Eze for Six Months Over Money Laundering Claims, Clears Him

From The Punch · (6m ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigated Pastor Jerry Eze for six months for suspected money laundering.
  • EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede stated that the investigation found no wrongdoing and commended the pastor for his integrity.
  • Olukoyede also urged religious institutions to uphold integrity and warned against using places of worship as a cover for illicit activities.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded its six-month investigation into Pastor Jerry Eze of Streams of Joy International, clearing him of money laundering allegations. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede revealed the probe was initiated due to intelligence reports and petitions observing significant foreign currency inflows into the cleric's accounts.

We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.

— Ola OlukoyedeThe EFCC Chairman explains the basis for initiating the investigation into Pastor Jerry Eze.

During a Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja, Olukoyede shared that after thorough investigation, including inviting Pastor Eze for questioning, the commission found no evidence of financial impropriety. Instead, Olukoyede commended the pastor, stating, "I called you here to commend you." This declaration was met with applause from the attendees.

So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books.

— Ola OlukoyedeThe EFCC Chairman describes the initial steps of the investigation.

Pastor Eze, present at the event, acknowledged the commendation and highlighted the EFCC's dual responsibility to investigate financial crimes and recognize integrity. The EFCC chairman reiterated the agency's commitment to monitoring financial activities and emphasized its preventive mandate in combating corruption.

So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.

— Ola OlukoyedeThe EFCC Chairman recounts his meeting with Pastor Eze.

Olukoyede also took the opportunity to address the broader issue of religious leaders involved in fraudulent practices, noting that several clerics have faced investigation and conviction. He stressed the importance of integrity within religious institutions, cautioning against the misuse of places of worship for illicit purposes. This stance underscores the EFCC's dedication to ensuring financial integrity across all sectors, including religious organizations.

I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you.

— Ola OlukoyedeThe EFCC Chairman informs Pastor Eze of the investigation's outcome.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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