By Ayomide Otitoju
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that he personally supervised a six-month investigation into the Lead Pastor of Jerry Eze over allegations of money laundering.
Olukoyede made the revelation on Wednesday during the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
He said the investigation was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions, which led the commission to scrutinise a domiciliary account allegedly receiving foreign inflows from multiple countries, including Colombia, the United States, Sri Lanka, and Togo.
According to him, the account reportedly recorded frequent dollar and pound inflows, prompting further scrutiny by EFCC investigators.
“I investigated this man for six months for money laundering… we saw money coming in from different countries,” Olukoyede said, adding that the case was assigned to his team for full examination.
He explained that Eze was subsequently invited to the EFCC headquarters after preliminary findings were compiled. The anti-graft boss said he personally met with the cleric during the investigation process.
Olukoyede, however, said that after the probe was concluded, it was established that the funds were linked to legitimate activities, including philanthropic and ministry-related outreach.
He added that Eze clarified the sources and use of the funds, after which the commission commended him rather than proceeding with further action.
The EFCC chairman also emphasised the agency’s preventive mandate, noting that it engages with individuals of integrity to promote financial transparency.
He urged the pastor to maintain clean financial practices, adding that the commission would continue to monitor financial activities in line with its mandate.
