Diverting Tithes, Offerings, Others to Private Businesses is a Criminal Offence – EFCC Warns Churches

• The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned religious leaders against diverting tithes, offerings, zakat and other funds entrusted to churches and mosques into their personal businesses.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned religious leaders against diverting funds belonging to religious organisations into private businesses.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC.

Olukoyede urged churches and mosques to establish effective regulatory and compliance mechanisms to ensure that religious funds are properly managed and protected.

According to him, diverting money entrusted to a religious organisation for personal or private business purposes constitutes a criminal act.

He also called on religious leaders to demonstrate integrity and lead by example in the fight against corruption, noting that their conduct could significantly influence the behaviour and values of their followers.

“When the followers know that there is no difference between the money that is meant to propagate the faith that you stand for and your own personal resources, you miss everything together.

“You are not supposed to mingle in. That’s nothing that says you can’t do any other vocation. You sell cars, you are a farmer and all of that.

“Don’t mix the money from the purse of your organisation with that of your own personal money. Don’t do that. When money is paid to your organisation, don’t divert it to your business.

“That’s criminal and some of our adherents and followers see some of these things we do.”

The EFCC chairman stressed that religious institutions have a significant responsibility in promoting ethical conduct and preventing corruption within society.

He noted that while the EFCC has the statutory responsibility to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, religious communities also have an important role to play in shaping character, encouraging honesty and discouraging corrupt practices.

Olukoyede further criticised the practice of religious centres celebrating individuals whose wealth cannot be reasonably explained by their legitimate earnings.

He gave an example of a public servant who constructed a mosque allegedly worth far more than what he could have legitimately earned over many years.

“A public servant says he has built a mosque that is worth more than his earnings in the next 500 years. And you go there to dedicate it. You are dedicating the proceeds of crime,” he said.

The EFCC chairman urged religious leaders to carefully consider the source of wealth associated with individuals before publicly celebrating or honouring them, stressing the need for faith communities to uphold accountability and integrity.