Diverting tithes, offerings, others to private businesses criminal offence – EFCC warns

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned spiritual leaders against diverting tithes, offerings, zakat and different spiritual funds into backstage businesses.

The EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, gave the informing connected Wednesday successful Abuja astatine the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC.

Olukoyede said specified diversion was transgression and advised churches and mosques to make regulatory compliance mechanisms to support funds entrusted to them.

He emphasised that spiritual leaders indispensable pb by illustration successful the combat against corruption due to the fact that their followers emulated their conduct.

“When the followers cognize that determination is nary quality betwixt the wealth that is meant to propagate the religion that you basal for and your ain idiosyncratic resources, you miss everything together.

“You are not expected to mingle in. That’s thing that says you can’t bash immoderate different vocation. You merchantability cars, you are a husbandman and each of that.

“Don’t premix the wealth from the purse of your organisation with that of your ain idiosyncratic money. Don’t bash that. When wealth is paid to your organisation, don’t divert it to your business.

“That’s transgression and immoderate of our adherents and followers spot immoderate of these things we do.”

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