Go After Corrupt Nigerians Without Fear or Favour, NIREC and Sultan Tell EFCC

The Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pursue corrupt Nigerians, including pastors and imams, without fear or favor. This call came as the EFCC reported that corruption has infiltrated religious circles, with numerous ordained pastors and imams under investigation for fraud and misappropriation of funds.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, who co-chairs NIREC, emphasized during a recent meeting that religious leaders have a moral obligation to combat corruption, as God detests it. He stated that using public or corrupt funds to send individuals to religious destinations such as Jerusalem or Mecca is unacceptable, as God is not corrupt and would not accept such deeds.

The Sultan stressed that individuals involved in corruption should face legal consequences, regardless of their religious affiliation or personal relationships.

Outgoing Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, called on Christian and Islamic faithful to maintain peace and unity, warning that a flawed understanding of God can result in deceptive religious figures who manipulate followers through hate speech and exploit religion, ethnicity, and poverty for personal gain. The council resolved to condemn any statements that contradict peace and human dignity.

The EFCC Director-General, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, encouraged the anti-corruption manual produced by the commission to serve as a moral compass for Nigerians, particularly religious centers and educational institutions aiming to foster a corruption-free society. Co-chairman of NIREC and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev.

Daniel Okoh, urged religious leaders to utilize their platforms to promote peace, unity, and bridge-building, questioning the kind of Nigeria they wish to create through their words and actions.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, lamented that corruption has seeped into religious circles, revealing that many pastors and imams are facing trials for corruption, including alleged conspiracy to misappropriate funds intended for pilgrimage. He expressed a preference for stripping individuals involved of their religious titles. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, conveyed President Bola Tinubu's message, promising that government would persist in securing Nigeria from criminals and ensuring safety for its citizens.

He urged religious and traditional leaders to foster tolerance, defuse disputes, counter divisive narratives, and prevent politics from infiltrating religious and political spaces as elections approach.