Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has voiced out about the integrity of pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that the clergyman was investigated for six months over alleged money laundering before he was declared innocent.
The EFCC boss disclosed this while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award ceremony, where he hinted on the need for integrity and accountability among religious leaders.
Olukoyede pointed out that several pastors and imams had been arrested and convicted for fraudulent practices.
According to him, the investigation into Pastor Jerry Eze began after the EFCC noticed large inflows of foreign currency into the pastor’s domiciliary account from countries including Colombia, the United States, Sri Lanka, and Togo.
“I investigated this man for six months for money laundering,” Olukoyede revealed.
He explained that the volume and pattern of the transactions raised suspicion, prompting the commission to launch a full-scale probe into the founder of Streams of Joy International.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo. I said, who is this man?” He asked rhetorically.
He said investigators carefully examined the financial records and later invited the cleric for questioning after compiling what appeared to be a criminal report.
However, after meeting Jerry Eze and reviewing the full details of the transactions, Olukoyede said the commission found no evidence of wrongdoing and instead discovered that the funds were linked to legitimate charitable and religious activities.
He said he invited the pastor not to accuse him, but to commend him for maintaining financial integrity.
“I called you here to commend you. The EFCC should also be identified with people who have integrity. We must celebrate them, and you are one of them,” Olukoyede said.
He maintained that while the pastor had been cleared, the agency would continue to monitor financial activities in line with its mandate.
