Olukoyede said this on Wednesday at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, during a one-day dialogue on “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has confirmed that the agency’s operatives uncovered a religious sect laundering money for terrorists in Nigeria.
Olukoyede said this on Wednesday at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, during a one-day dialogue on “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption.”
The EFCC boss revealed that another religious body was found to be protecting a money launderer after some money suspected to have been laundered was traced to the organisation’s bank account.
Olukoyede said, “A religious sect in this country had been found to be laundering money for terrorists.”
“We were able to trace some laundered money to a religious organisation, and when we apporached the religious organisation about it and we were carrying out our investigation, we got a restraining order stopping us from carrying out our investigation,” he added.
There have been several claims that persistent terrorist actions disturbing the peace of Nigeria and other neighbouring countries are connected to religious activities.
SaharaReporters had reported how terrorists attacked both churches and mosques in Nigeria.
For instance, In June 2022, SaharaReporters reported how a church in Ondo State was attacked by terrorists, with scores of people killed while many were injured.
The incident occurred at St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the church is behind Olowo of Owo palace.
Many members of the congregation were shot and slaughtered.
SaharaReporters also reported how terrorists locally dubbed as bandits attacked worshippers in a Mosque at Saya-Saya village in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing seven people.
Five of the victims were gunned down in the mosque, while the remaining two other victims were killed at different locations within the area.