We Investigated Pastor Jerry Eze for Alleged Money Laundering - EFCC

the EFCC Chair regarding an investigation into Pastor Jerry Eze of the Streams of Joy ministry.

• Background of Investigation: The EFCC conducted a six-month investigation into Pastor Jerry Eze over allegations of money laundering.). This was prompted by the observation of high volumes of international transactions-specifically dollars and pounds-flowing into his accounts from various countries (1:04-1:16).

• The Meeting: The EFCC Chair recounts how he invited Pastor Jerry to his office to discuss the findings. He admits he was initially struck by Pastor Jerry's casual attire (baggy trousers and a t-shirt), contrasting with his expectations of a traditional religious leader (1:56-2:20).

In his words,

I sometimes I don't I I how I wish we change the word church and mosque. How are we which we adopt the the phrase “an assembly of righteous people who have the spirit of God” rather than using a church because over a church you have pastors you have bishops, and over mosques you have imams, and I tell you I have a lot of them in my holding facility as I'm talking to you, and I have a lot of them that are convicted for fraudulent practices so sad

so it's a product of is is what comes out of of your heart. You have a right you're a righteous man. Now I'm going to embra I mean embarrass you today. I

0:42 never wanted to say it but I I just felt that's my little way of contri making making this contribution.

0:49 | investigated this man for 6 months.

Yeah. For money laundering.

1:00 We walk by intelligence. We walk by petitions.

At some point I saw there was an account a doillary account. Dollars pounds were dropping in like raindrops you know from

1:12 Colombia from from you know from America from Sri Lanka even from Togo. I said

who is this man? Yes l've been hearing

about his name you know um l've seen his face a couple of times but I mean I was

1:28 I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he's a pastor. So they said it’s one pastor Jerry of Streams of Joy go investigate him.

So we went to investigation. We comb the books. Yes. We saw the money coming in.

1:46 So my IO my investigative doctor came to me one day and said sir this is the preinary report. I said I I like to see

1:53 this man. Go invite him. So he came to my office. I saw him. I have seen that face. I know. But I didn't know it was

2:01 him because I saw somebody who came in with baggy trouser and you know

2:08 small I mean t-shirt and some punk and you know with ping and I I was almost say going to say go and call your pastor my friend you're not the one go and bring the your bishop.

2:23 So ll upon a second look I look at the face I said okay you are pastor Jerry said yes sir I said go sit beside me. So 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 you.

With a loud applause in the audience celebrating Pastor Jerry’s personal integrity, the EFCC Chair concluded saying “And I said look, by virtue of my mandate people identify us and the work we do with criminals with suspect and all of that. I also have a preventive mandate.

EFCC should also be identified with precious people who have integrity. We must drum them up. And you are one of them. The only thing that is remaining now is to give you letter of validation. But I'm not going to give you because I will still continue to monitor your finances, you know.”

After reviewing the documentation and hearing Pastor Jerry's explanation of his financial activities and charitable work, the EFCC Chair stated that he did not call him in to interrogate him, but rather to commend him for his integrity 

He emphasized that while the agency is often known for pursuing suspects, it also has a preventive mandate to identify and support individuals of integrity in society. He concluded by stating that while he is not issuing a formal validation letter, the agency will continue to monitor the account as a standard procedure