The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that the agency conducted a six-month investigation into the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, over suspected money laundering before eventually clearing him of any wrongdoing.
Olukoyede made the disclosure on Wednesday during the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony held in Abuja.
According to him, the investigation was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions received by the commission after unusual inflows of foreign currencies were noticed in a domiciliary account linked to the cleric.
He explained that the EFCC observed significant deposits in dollars and pounds coming from multiple countries, which raised suspicion and prompted a formal probe.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was a domiciliary account where dollars and pounds were dropping like raindrops from Colombia, America, Sri Lanka, and even Togo,” he said.
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Following this, Olukoyede said he ordered a full investigation, which lasted about six months as operatives examined the financial records and activities linked to the account.
He added that after the investigation was completed, Pastor Jerry Eze was invited to the EFCC office for questioning.
According to him, the cleric explained the sources of the funds and how they were connected to his ministry and humanitarian activities.
After reviewing the findings, Olukoyede said the commission found no evidence of financial wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office.
He explained everything how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people. I told him I did not call him to explain, but to commend him,” the EFCC chairman stated.
Olukoyede added that the EFCC has a duty not only to investigate financial crimes but also to acknowledge individuals found to have acted with integrity.
He, however, warned that the commission will continue to monitor suspicious financial transactions as part of its preventive role.
He also noted concerns about some religious leaders involved in fraudulent activities, stating that several have been investigated and convicted in the past, and urged religious institutions to uphold integrity.
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