THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned religious leaders against diverting tithes, offerings, zakat and other religious funds into private businesses.

The EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Second Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC.

Olukoyede said such diversion was criminal and advised churches and mosques to create regulatory compliance mechanisms to protect funds entrusted to them.

He emphasised that religious leaders must lead by example in the fight against corruption because their followers emulated their conduct.