VIDEO: Why I investigated pastor Jerry Eze for six months — EFCC boss, Olukoyede

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has explained why Pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International, was placed under investigation for six months.

Olukoyede spoke at the Jerry Eze Business Grant Award Ceremony, where he disclosed that the cleric came under scrutiny following intelligence reports and petitions received by the commission.

He noted that the probe was triggered by suspicious inflows into a domiciliary account linked to Eze, with foreign currencies arriving from multiple countries, raising concerns within the anti-graft agency.

The EFCC boss said the commission carried out a detailed review of the pastor’s financial records after investigators were directed to examine his activities.

According to him, the agency initially treated the case as a potential money laundering investigation, given the pattern and volume of transactions observed.

He recounted that after the internal review, his team submitted a report and he requested to meet Eze in person.

He admitted that he did not immediately recognise the cleric when he arrived at his office, based on his appearance at the time.

However, after further interaction, Olukoyede said Eze provided explanations about the source of the funds and the nature of his activities, including how the money was received and utilised.

Following the investigation, the EFCC found no evidence of wrongdoing. Instead of pursuing prosecution, the commission decided to commend the cleric for his conduct.

Olukoyede added that while the EFCC is widely known for tackling financial crimes, it also has a preventive role that includes identifying and promoting individuals who demonstrate integrity.

He stressed that such recognition is necessary to encourage accountability and positive values in society, while noting that the commission would continue to monitor financial activities as part of its mandate.

He said, “I never wanted to say it, but I just felt that’s my little way of making this contribution. I investigated this man for six months. Yeah, for money laundering.

“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, you know, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo. I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, you know, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I mean I was, I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.

“So they said there is one pastor Jerry Eze of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books. Yes, we saw the money coming in. So my IO, my investigator came to me one day and said, sir, this is the criminal report. I said I’d like to see this man, go and invite him.

“So he came to my office, I saw him, I’ve seen that face, I know, but I didn’t know it was him, because I saw somebody came in with baggy trousers, you know, I mean, T-shirt, and some punk, and you know, with partying. I was almost going to say go and call your pastor, my friend, and you are not the one. Go and bring your bishop.

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“So upon a second look, I looked at the face, I said okay, you are Pastor Jerry? He said yes, sir. I said sit beside me. So we, you know, he told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.

“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.

“And I said, look, by virtue of my mandate, people identify us and what we do with criminals, with suspects, and all of that. I also have preventive mandate. EFCC should also be identified with righteous people who have integrity. We must drum them up. We must drum them up. And you are one of them. The only thing that is remaining now is to give you a letter of validation, but I’m not going to give you, because I will still continue to monitor your finances.”

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