• Latest
  • Trending

Opinion: fighting financial crime in the house of God… how Possible?

September 16, 2025
UNICAL Board Reappoints Mathias Sunday as MD of Printing Press

UNICAL Board Reappoints Mathias Sunday as MD of Printing Press

October 28, 2025
JUST IN:  Cross River Gov. presents N780b as 2026 budget

JUST IN: Cross River Gov. presents N780b as 2026 budget

October 28, 2025
Group Solicits Budgetary Allocation For  Cross River Diabetes Patients

Group Solicits Budgetary Allocation For Cross River Diabetes Patients

October 28, 2025
First Lady Eyoanwan Otu Celebrates Governor’s Birthday with Over 900 Teachers in Akamkpa

First Lady Eyoanwan Otu Celebrates Governor’s Birthday with Over 900 Teachers in Akamkpa

October 25, 2025
Final Whistle for a Gentleman of Sports: Cross River Bids Farewell to Orok Edwards Imaha

Final Whistle for a Gentleman of Sports: Cross River Bids Farewell to Orok Edwards Imaha

October 25, 2025
Breaking: Tinubu Sacks Military Chiefs, Appoints New Service Heads

Breaking: Tinubu Sacks Military Chiefs, Appoints New Service Heads

October 24, 2025
Exporters Approves 7yrs Development Plan For Cross River

Exporters Approves 7yrs Development Plan For Cross River

October 24, 2025
PadBank Mobile Outreach Empowers Women, Girls in Cross River

PadBank Mobile Outreach Empowers Women, Girls in Cross River

October 23, 2025
Cross River hosts global communication experts conference, seeks revival of African knowledge systems

Cross River hosts global communication experts conference, seeks revival of African knowledge systems

October 23, 2025
2nd Agbokim Falls Green Marathon Set for November 22, 2025

2nd Agbokim Falls Green Marathon Set for November 22, 2025

October 22, 2025
Justice as Development: NDDC Commissioner Duke Calls for Judicial Reform as Foundation for Sustainable Progress in the Niger Delta

Justice as Development: NDDC Commissioner Duke Calls for Judicial Reform as Foundation for Sustainable Progress in the Niger Delta

October 21, 2025
APC begins nationwide constitutional amendment in Cross River

APC begins nationwide constitutional amendment in Cross River

October 21, 2025
PrimetimeNews
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Subscription
Advertise
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Governance
  • Humanity
  • Community report
  • Pastoral
  • Education
  • Environment
No Result
View All Result
PrimetimeNews
No Result
View All Result

Opinion: fighting financial crime in the house of God… how Possible?

by Prime Time
September 16, 2025
in Features
0

By Asuquo Cletus

The church has long been regarded as a sanctuary of truth, morality, and refuge. Yet, in recent times, a disturbing paradox has emerged places meant to heal souls are becoming breeding grounds for financial impropriety.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

C/River Celebrates Excellence: 52 Civil Servants to Receive Awards, Medals, and Promotions

Conspiracy of Silence: The Bane of Nigeria’s Political Governance

From money laundering cloaked as tithes and offerings, to dubious “seed faith” pledges used to siphon funds, the house of God is increasingly being mentioned in the same breath as fraud.

This forces us to confront a blunt question: can financial crime really be fought within the walls of religious institutions, or has sacredness become the perfect cover for corruption?

Part of the problem lies in how the church, and other religious bodies operate largely unregulated in terms of financial accountability.

Unlike banks or corporate organizations, there is no standardized audit system that compels religious leaders to declare how billions of naira in donations are spent. Instead, followers are told to “leave it to God” or risk being branded as faithless for questioning the pastor’s use of funds. This culture of silence and unquestionable loyalty makes religious spaces fertile ground for financial crime.

Critics argue that regulating religious finances is akin to interfering with worship. But let’s be frank when a pastor owns multiple private jets, while congregants struggle to pay school fees, questions must be asked. Is this divine blessing, or is it financial manipulation of the gullible faithful? It is no coincidence that anti-graft agencies have, on occasion, discovered illicit funds being funneled through church accounts.

The “house of God” has become a safe laundering hub, protected by the shield of spirituality and the fear of public backlash.

However, let’s not act naive. Fighting financial crime in religious institutions will be almost impossible without two key shifts: first, the courage of followers to demand transparency; and second, the will of government to enforce financial accountability without being accused of religious persecution.

The reality is that most politicians and elites are themselves members or patrons of these same religious centers. Would they ever support laws that expose their own backdoor dealings hidden under the veil of donations and thanksgiving offerings?

Then comes the theological dilemma: should the state really dictate how a church or mosque manages its offerings? Religious leaders insist that contributions are “unto God,” not subject to earthly audits. But when the same money is used to build business empires, finance extravagant lifestyles, or even fund political campaigns, it ceases to be sacred it becomes economic activity that should not be above the law.

The controversy is clear: those who call for transparency risk being accused of attacking faith. Yet ignoring the problem only fuels the decay. The painful truth is that the same institutions that preach against corruption are sometimes neck-deep in it, hiding behind holy robes and pulpits.

So, how possible is it to fight financial crime in the house of God? The answer is uncomfortable it is possible, but only if society is ready to strip the cloak of immunity that religion has enjoyed for far too long. Until then, the church and mosque will remain both sanctuaries of worship and, tragically, sanctuaries of fraud.

ShareTweetPin

Search

No Result
View All Result

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Achievements (18)
  • Agriculture (27)
  • Bereavement (66)
  • Breaking News (72)
  • Business (10)
  • Capacity Building (12)
  • Community report (23)
  • Crime (11)
  • Development (30)
  • Disclaimer (6)
  • Economy (17)
  • Education (39)
  • Entertainment (7)
  • Environment (13)
  • Exclusive (2)
  • Features (3)
  • Governance (100)
  • Government (8)
  • Health (18)
  • Human Capacity Development (13)
  • Human rights (15)
  • Humanity (28)
  • Jurisprudence (7)
  • Leadership (7)
  • Lifestyle (28)
  • National Assembly (1)
  • Opinion (3)
  • Pastoral (29)
  • Politics (72)
  • Property (1)
  • Public Safety (10)
  • Public Trust (11)
  • Security (25)
  • Service (6)
  • Special report (6)
  • Sport (16)
  • Sports (6)
  • Tourism (6)
  • Uncategorized (21)

Recent News

  • UNICAL Board Reappoints Mathias Sunday as MD of Printing Press
  • JUST IN: Cross River Gov. presents N780b as 2026 budget
  • Group Solicits Budgetary Allocation For Cross River Diabetes Patients
  • About
  • advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Primetimenews -

No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Governance
  • Humanity
  • Community report
  • Pastoral
  • Education
  • Environment

© 2024 Primetimenews -