‘We Traced Laundered Money To Religious Organisation’ – EFCC Chairman

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Wednesday, said the Commission has traced N7 billion laundered by a religious organisation for terrorists.

The Chairman said this during the one-day dialogue on ‘Youth, Religion, And The Fight Against Corruption’ currently ongoing at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

According to him, the commission was investigating a fraud case involving the sum of N13 billion when it traced N7 billion to the said religious body.

He explained that the organisation quickly went to court and obtained a restraining order in order to stop EFCC from inviting its leaders.

Olukoyede however noted that EFCC is going to appeal the restraining order in order to recover these stolen funds.

He further said another unnamed religious body was also linked to laundering money for a terrorist body, which has been killing and destroying Nigerians for a long time now.

He said: “A religious sect in this country has been found to be laundering money for terrorists.

“We were able to trace some laundered money to a religious organisation, and 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.”

He explained that some religious organisations, institutions, sects, and bodies have been found linked to money laundering.

Olukoyede also revealed that his regime has secured 747 convictions since he assumed office about three months ago.

He however lamented that the high number of convictions mostly came from internet fraud related offences.