The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the agency investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him of any wrongdoing.
Olukoyede made the revelation on Wednesday at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja, explaining that the probe was initiated following intelligence reports and petitions concerning large foreign currency inflows into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions,” he said. “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.”
He added that investigators were tasked to examine the account activity after questions were raised about the source of funds.
“So they said this one pastor of Streams of Joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
According to him, Pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Jerry Eze’s Streams of Joy International, was later invited for questioning after preliminary findings were reviewed. The cleric reportedly explained the nature and origin of the funds and how they were used for philanthropic activities.
Olukoyede said the EFCC eventually found no evidence of financial wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office… I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he said.
The EFCC chairman stressed that the agency’s mandate includes both investigation and prevention of financial crimes, while noting that financial monitoring remains essential in combating corruption and illicit flows.
He also acknowledged concerns about financial misconduct within religious circles, stating that some clerics have been investigated and convicted in the past.
Olukoyede urged religious institutions to uphold transparency and integrity, warning that places of worship should not be used as cover for illicit financial activity.
The remarks drew applause from attendees at the Abuja event, where Pastor Eze was present to receive commendation.
