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EFCC Probed Pastor Jerry Eze for Six Months, Found No Fraud — Olukoyede Reveals

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Promise Odejide

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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the agency investigated Streams of Joy International founder, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering. He said the probe was triggered by intelligence reports linked to large foreign currency inflows.

Olukoyede made the revelation while speaking on the commission’s investigative processes.

Probe Triggered by Heavy Foreign Currency Inflows

According to the EFCC boss, the investigation began after officials flagged a domiciliary account receiving multiple inflows in dollars and pounds from different countries. He said the pattern raised initial suspicion.

“We saw an account where dollars and pounds were coming in from Colombia, America, Sri Lanka and even Togo,” he said, explaining that the volume of transactions prompted further scrutiny.

EFCC Conducted Detailed Six-Month Investigation

Olukoyede said the commission carried out a thorough review of financial records linked to the pastor over a six-month period. He noted that the probe was intelligence-driven and followed standard procedures.

The EFCC, he explained, relies on petitions and data analysis to initiate such investigations.

Pastor Invited, Cleared After Review

He disclosed that Pastor Jerry Eze was later invited for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled. However, after reviewing the evidence and hearing his explanation, the commission found no case against him.

“I didn’t call you here to explain. We had already done our work. I called you to commend you,” Olukoyede said.

EFCC Warns of Ongoing Monitoring

Despite clearing the cleric, the EFCC chairman emphasised that financial activities across sectors, including religious institutions, remain under scrutiny. He warned that some individuals have used similar platforms for fraudulent activities.

He reiterated the commission’s commitment to monitoring suspicious transactions and enforcing financial laws.

Case Highlights EFCC’s Intelligence-Led Approach

The disclosure offers insight into how the anti-graft agency tracks and investigates financial flows, particularly involving foreign transactions. It also underscores the broader focus on transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s financial system.

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