Falana Urges EFCC to Act Against Churches Misusing Congregational Funds

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana calls on the EFCC and other agencies to tackle the alleged financial misuse by churches, emphasizing the need for transparency in religious institutions.

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption bodies to prosecute churches that divert charity funds for commercial purposes. He described this behavior as criminal.

He additionally encouraged church members to address individuals engaged in financial mismanagement within their congregations.

During an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the 2024 Peace Summit hosted by the Justice Development Peace Commission (JDPC) in Lagos on Saturday, Falana shared these remarks.

The summit, with the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Peace in Nigeria: A Call to Action,” sought to rejuvenate national focus on community welfare.

“It is terrible for faith-based organizations to stray from their primary mission of serving people and instead focus on business ventures under the guise of religion. These funds should be directed towards charitable efforts to support individuals in improving their lives and addressing social challenges,” he stated.

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He stressed that, because these funds are exempt from taxation, it is illegal for faith leaders to use them for commercial purposes.

Falana emphasized that members of the faith and authorities responsible for overseeing financial management should take action against such offenders and hold them accountable.

The senior lawyer specifically criticized church leaders for soliciting donations to establish schools while imposing high fees that are unaffordable for impoverished families.

He expressed sorrow over the current situation in which children of loyal supporters of these institutions struggle to afford their tuition. “The assertions by some school owners that Jesus Christ instructed them to raise tuitions are a mockery of God and His grace for humanity,” he commented.

According to NAN, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), a social branch of the Catholic Church, is dedicated to advancing sustainable and comprehensive human development through an all-encompassing empowerment strategy.