The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the immediate refund of billions of naira given to church project once the money was found to be proceeds of crime.

That revelation came from the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, while addressing RCCG workers on Saturday, November 7, ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress, according to Church Times Nigeria report.

Adeboye had invited Olukoyede to speak to the workers on financial propriety and the need for churches to keep transparent financial records.

Recounting what happened, Olukoyede said: “A church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but investigations later revealed that the money was proceeds of financial crime.”

He commended the cleric “for ordering the refund shortly after the church was alerted” but did not name the donor, the project, or the exact sum involved.

The EFCC chairman, who is also an ordained pastor, said he was worried about the rising number of cases involving church leaders in financial crimes, including allegations around contracts for church projects.

He warned “church workers against accepting suspicious donations and pursuing money through questionable means.” He also spoke about a separate case involving “another church allegedly implicated in a Ponzi scheme, saying its leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.” Names and details in that case were also withheld.

Olukoyede warned that the “commission would not spare anyone involved in financial crimes, regardless of their religious position or affiliation.” He further “cautioned church members against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, saying such tendencies could expose religious institutions to financial misconduct.”

The EFCC boss raised concern about reports of people allegedly bribing their way into leadership positions within the RCCG. He urged pastors to check the source of donations before accepting them, to ensure contributions to church projects were not proceeds of criminal activities.

On his part, Adeboye said the “RCCG would not protect anyone found to be involved in financial wrongdoing.” He also urged “pastors in the church to maintain clean financial records” and ensure their activities were free from corruption.