According to Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), ordered a person under investigation for alleged financial crimes to return billions of naira traced to church projects within a day..
According to Olukoyede, Adeboye issued the order right away after the commission briefed him on the investigation and the finding that certain RCCG projects had been linked to the proceeds of the alleged financial crimes.
This was revealed by the EFCC chairman to ministers and church employees following the monthly Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption City of God in Simawa, Ogun State.
“Ethical Standard and Corruption in Christian Community” was the theme of the program, which was organized at Adeboye’s invitation.
Olukoyede described the incident, stating that the person under investigation was involved in financial transactions totaling tens of billions of naira, some of which the commission linked to the church.
“The reaction on the face of Daddy was like I was almost blaming myself for taking the matter to him. Daddy was visibly angry. He called one or two pastors and said, ‘I give you 24 hours. Everything you have traced to RCCG from this particular person who has been indicted, return it within the next 24 hours.’
“That money was returned to the coffers of government. That is what RCCG is known for. That is who we are. We are not the custodian of processes of crime,” he said.
“That is the difference between us and the others. Daddy Adeboye took action immediately he heard about the financial issue when the others are trying to defend it, justify it. Don’t justify processes of crime; it’s a crime to do that.
“I say this with every sense of humility. It was a day that I had calls to detain a very senior pastor in this mission. I had no choice. I needed to do it because of what we have seen.
“Not because of his activities, what he perpetrated within the church, no. But because of what happened in his place of work, where he works in his secular activities. I feel things like this should not be happening within the Christian community.
“Some of us pervert holiness on our altars. We don’t preach as much holiness as we do of materialism. It must not be seen in our parishes giving front row to criminals.
“We are not saying we should send them away, but we must not use the altar to promote financial fraudulent activities. Invariably, when you give undue recognition to known 419, people that have committed financial crimes in our churches, then we are encouraging them. When we begin to idolise those who are money bags in the church, there is a problem.
Citing 1 Timothy 6:9–10, Olukoyede identified materialism, covetousness, and the love of money as the main causes of corruption in the Christian community.
He also warned against leadership conflicts that promote financial inducements for ordination and advancement, as well as unhealthy competition among churches to create mega congregations.
The head of the EFCC emphasized that both parties were guilty of bribery and criminal abuse of office when he described giving or receiving money in exchange for church positions.
“Anyone who offers money for ordination and for promotion does not deserve it. He does not deserve it. And we must kick against this in RCCG. Not only those who receive, those who also offer are also criminally liable. What you are doing is bribery. You want to bribe your way to the top. And most people do that. They crash at the end of the day,” he said.
“I challenge anyone who has ever offered me a bribe and I took it in the course of my work to come out. By the grace of God, this is my 10th year in this work. I was Chief of Staff, later Secretary to the Commission and by divine providence, the Commission’s chairman.
“We don’t have the right to accuse people in government of stealing money when some of us are doing worse things in the church. This must stop. That evil must stop.
“By righteousness, you can win. By holiness, you can win. And in the mighty name of Jesus, that wind has begun to blow in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. This church will be a model to the entire world. They will come and copy our processes and our systems with respect to the sanctity of our processes.
Leaders lead by example, and Pastor Adeboye has demonstrated the qualities of a reputable, sincere, truthful, and God-fearing leader. His actions reflect a commitment to transparency and to serving God wholeheartedly. We are proud of him and grateful for the example he sets and the teachings he shares. He is truly an exemplary leader.
