The lead pastor of Streams of Joy International, Jerry Eze, has shared details of his experience during a six-month investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja, the cleric described the period as emotionally draining, revealing that he struggled to understand why he was under scrutiny.
“I remember that the EFCC chairman was talking about the investigation. He’s saying it, and he’s happy. But he didn’t know the kind of… I remember talking to Pastor Poju at the time. I remember talking to Pastor Sarah. I’m like, what did I do? I’ve not done anything. I don’t know why these people are after me,” he said.
Eze recounted how the situation affected him deeply, noting that he often found himself in tears while heading to his prayer programme.
“I wake up, I’m driving to NSPPD in the morning… You did me wrong. I must say it. I’m driving in the morning, and I’m crying, and I’m saying, ‘Jesus, Lord, you know.’ I prayed for you. I put your name on the altar because it looked like… I didn’t know what it was,” he added.
He explained that the uncertainty pushed him to seek spiritual guidance and remain prayerful until the investigation was concluded.
According to him, the EFCC eventually informed him that no wrongdoing was discovered after a thorough review of his financial records.
“But then again, the interesting thing is that when he came, he said, ‘We looked through your books, and we didn’t find anything wrong you did,’ and I am beyond grateful to God,” Eze said.
Earlier, EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede had disclosed that the probe was initiated following intelligence reports of large foreign currency inflows into an account linked to the pastor.
The funds, reportedly received from countries including Colombia, the United States, Sri Lanka and Togo, were traced and later linked to Eze’s religious and charitable activities.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the commission stated that no offence was established, while also advising the cleric to maintain transparency in his financial dealings.
