EFCC Chairman: Nearly 75% of Government Pilgrimage Funds Were Stolen

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has alleged that nearly 75 per cent of government funds released for Christian and Muslim pilgrimage programmes were stolen by officials overseeing the agencies responsible for the programmes.

Olukoyede made the allegation in Abuja while addressing the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and presenting the EFCC’s Anti-Corruption Interfaith Manual to religious bodies.

According to the EFCC chairman, the alleged diversion was uncovered during investigations carried out by the commission into the activities of the Christian Pilgrims Board and the Muslim Pilgrims Board during his previous senior roles at the agency.

Olukoyede described some of the findings as “mind-boggling”, alleging that officials responsible for managing pilgrimage programmes diverted a substantial portion of the public funds released to support Nigerian pilgrims. He further alleged that some officials went as far as registering private companies in countries where Nigerian pilgrims travelled, creating potential conflicts of interest in the management of the programmes.

The EFCC chairman used the disclosure to call for stronger accountability among religious institutions and public bodies. He urged religious leaders to ensure that money belonging to churches, mosques and other faith-based organisations is kept separate from their personal funds and private businesses.

Olukoyede also challenged pastors, imams and other religious leaders to question the sources of unusually large donations, particularly when the wealth of a donor appears inconsistent with their legitimate earnings. He warned that accepting unexplained wealth without scrutiny could give moral legitimacy to proceeds allegedly obtained through corruption.

The EFCC boss said religious organisations should establish clear financial controls to ensure that funds entrusted to their leaders are properly accounted for and used for their intended purposes. He stressed that corruption should not be viewed through religious or ethnic lines, arguing that financial crimes affect Nigerians regardless of their faith.

The pilgrimage-fund allegation comes amid a wider push by the EFCC to engage religious institutions in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign. The commission’s new interfaith manual is intended to help religious bodies promote integrity, accountability and awareness about financial crimes.

However, Olukoyede’s 75 per cent figure remains an allegation from the EFCC chairman based on investigations he referenced. Public reports of his remarks do not specify the exact period covered, the total amount of money involved, or identify the individual officials allegedly responsible for the diversion.

The allegation therefore highlights the need for transparency and further accountability in the management of public funds allocated to pilgrimage programmes.