The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye, reportedly ordered the immediate refund of billions of naira donated to a church project after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raised concerns that the money originated from criminal activities.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this while addressing workers of the RCCG in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, 2026, during a meeting organised by the church ahead of its annual Holy Ghost Congress.
According to a report by Church Times Nigeria, Olukoyede revealed that a church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but subsequent investigations established that the funds were proceeds of financial crime.
He said Adeboye responded by directing that the money be returned within 24 hours after the church was alerted to its questionable source.
The EFCC chairman commended the cleric for his response, describing the action as an example of financial responsibility and transparency in religious institutions.
Although Olukoyede did not disclose the identity of the donor, the particular church project involved or the exact amount refunded, he emphasised that religious organisations must exercise caution when accepting large financial contributions.
Speaking further, Olukoyede, who is also an ordained pastor, expressed concern over increasing cases of financial misconduct involving religious leaders and allegations surrounding contracts awarded for church projects.
He warned church workers and religious leaders against accepting suspicious donations or pursuing financial resources through questionable means.
According to him, churches must establish proper financial procedures to ensure that donations and contributions are not connected to proceeds of crime.
The EFCC chairman also cautioned religious institutions against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, noting that such practices could create opportunities for financial misconduct.
He further raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly attempting to bribe their way into leadership positions within the RCCG.
Olukoyede urged pastors to investigate the sources of substantial donations before accepting them, stressing that religious institutions should not become channels through which illegally acquired wealth is legitimised.
EFCC Recalls Another Church’s Alleged Ponzi Scheme
The anti-graft agency chairman also recounted a separate incident involving another church that was allegedly implicated in a Ponzi scheme.
He disclosed that the church leader initially resisted the EFCC’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the commission threatened legal action.
However, Olukoyede did not identify the church, its leadership or the amount involved.
He maintained that the EFCC would not spare anyone found engaging in financial crimes, regardless of religious affiliation, position or influence.
The warning underscores the commission’s position that religious institutions and their leaders are not exempt from financial accountability and investigations where credible allegations of wrongdoing arise.
Adeboye Calls for Financial Transparency
Responding to the EFCC chairman’s remarks, Pastor Adeboye reportedly assured that the RCCG would not protect anyone found to be involved in financial wrongdoing.
He also urged pastors across the church to maintain accurate and transparent financial records, ensuring that their activities remain free from corruption.
The cleric’s position reinforces the importance of accountability in managing church finances, particularly as religious organisations receive substantial donations from members, corporate supporters and other benefactors.
The development has renewed attention on financial transparency in Nigeria’s religious sector, particularly the responsibility of churches to verify the sources of large donations and establish safeguards against money laundering and other financial crimes.
For the EFCC, the message is that the fight against financial crimes extends beyond public institutions and corporate organisations to every individual or institution, including religious bodies, where suspicious financial transactions are identified.
