The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has been appointed Pastor in Charge of Lagos Province 137 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Church Times reported that Olukoyede is expected to begin his new assignment this month at the RCCG City of Refuge, Akowonjo, Lagos, following the presentation of his appointment letter during the church’s August convention.
The appointment adds a new responsibility to the career of Olukoyede, a lawyer and veteran anti-corruption official who has maintained a longstanding connection with the RCCG.
Before his appointment as provincial pastor, he served for about four years as Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province for Christian Social Responsibility in Lagos Province 90.
As Pastor in Charge of a province, Olukoyede will oversee several zones and their constituent parishes within Lagos Province 137.
His new church role comes as he continues to lead the EFCC in its campaign against corruption, money laundering, cybercrime and other financial offences.
One of the most prominent cases associated with his tenure is the prosecution of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over alleged financial offences involving billions of naira.
Bello has pleaded not guilty to the charges and the matter remains before the courts.
Olukoyede had earlier made a strong commitment to pursuing the case, declaring in April 2024, “If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the EFCC chair.”
Another case that has drawn attention to Olukoyede’s approach to financial investigations involved Pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International and convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations.
Speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja in April, Olukoyede disclosed that the EFCC had investigated Eze for six months over suspected money laundering.
He said the investigation followed intelligence and petitions after the commission noticed substantial foreign-currency inflows into a domiciliary account linked to the pastor.
Describing the transactions, Olukoyede said dollars and pounds were “dropping like raindrops” from countries including Colombia, the United States, Sri Lanka and Togo.
The commission subsequently examined the financial records and invited Eze after investigators completed their preliminary findings.
Olukoyede said the investigation did not establish financial wrongdoing and that Eze explained the sources of the funds and how they were being used for his ministry and charitable activities.
Rather than accuse the pastor, Olukoyede said he invited him to the EFCC office to commend him.
“I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We’ve already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he recalled telling Eze.
He added that the EFCC should not only investigate people suspected of financial crimes but should also recognise individuals who demonstrate integrity.
The Eze investigation is particularly relevant to Olukoyede’s new pastoral assignment, given his longstanding involvement in the RCCG and his position that religious affiliation should not exempt anyone from financial scrutiny.
Beyond individual investigations, Olukoyede has repeatedly advocated a preventive approach to tackling corruption, arguing that financial crimes should be detected and disrupted before illicit funds become difficult to recover.
Under his leadership, the EFCC has continued to pursue major asset-recovery, money-laundering, cybercrime and financial-crime cases.
The commission reported substantial recoveries of cash and assets during his tenure.
His leadership has also attracted criticism, with some opponents accusing the commission of selective enforcement and political victimisation.
Olukoyede and the EFCC have rejected such allegations.
The latest appointment therefore adds a prominent pastoral responsibility to the public role of an anti-graft chief who has spent years combining professional service with Christian ministry.
For Olukoyede, the move represents a continuation of his involvement in the RCCG while taking on a wider leadership responsibility within the church.
