EFCC: Olukoyede didn’t say church, mosque involved in money laundering for terrorists

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that Ola Olukoyede, its chairman, did not say a church or mosque was involved in laundering money for terrorists.

On Wednesday, Olukoyede said the agency has uncovered a religious sect in the country that launders money for terrorists.

The EFCC chairman said the religious sect sued the agency in a court to protect its leader from being interrogated after laundered money was traced to its bank account.

He added that the religious body got a court injunction restraining the commission from inviting, arresting or prosecuting its leader.

Olukoyede spoke during a dialogue on “Youth, religion, and the fight against corruption” held in Abuja on Wednesday.

In a statement on Thursday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the EFCC, said “some misleading reports, commentaries and analyses by sections of the media” have emanated from Olukoyede’s comment.

Oyewale said the EFCC chairman did not mention a church, mosque or any particular religious entity during his speech at the dialogue.

“The groups fingered by the EFCC chair are religious sects, not a church or a mosque,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

“Those subjecting this disclosure to sinister interpretation are on to mischief and should be ignored.”