The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has charged the media to uphold editorial integrity and adopt constructive reporting to enhance the fight against corruption, economic, and financial crimes.
He gave the charge on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in a goodwill message at the “VON Forum 2025,” themed “51 Years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS,” organized in Abuja by the Voice of Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The EFCC boss cited an incident in which the Commission arrested a politically exposed person for involvement in the disappearance of about $35 million from the national treasury, funds meant for the establishment of a refinery. He expressed regret that media reports the following day were headlined, “EFCC Witch-hunts Opposition,” noting that little effort was made to examine the facts that necessitated the arrest.
While emphasizing that the anti-corruption fight is insulated from partisan politics and is yielding impressive results, he called on all citizens and sectors, especially the media, to support the effort.
“That edifice that VON occupies is proceeds of crime recovered from a former government official. It is evidence that the war against economic and financial crime is working. As Nigerians, let us work together for the stability of this country, and one of the best ways is through the media. Let our reporting be responsible. When I arraign members of the ruling party, nobody raises concerns, but the moment I prosecute someone from the opposition, all hell breaks loose. I believe you can help raise ethical standards to reinforce editorial integrity,” he said.
Beyond corruption, Olukoyede also highlighted the threat of terrorist financing. He disclosed that the Network of Anti-Corruption Agencies and Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), which he chairs, was established to lead the fight against terrorist financing across the sub-region.
“I am pleased to inform you that we have established the Network of Anti-Corruption Agencies and Institutions in West Africa, which I currently lead, to drive efforts against terrorist financing. ECOWAS has adopted our protocol, and within the next few months, we will commence operations. This will remove barriers to cross-border investigations across West Africa. We will share intelligence and evidence to strengthen collaboration and stabilize the region. This is our next focus,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director General/CEO of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, appreciated Olukoyede for honoring the invitation. He stated that Nigeria, as a founding member of ECOWAS, has consistently played a defining role in the stability of the region, ranging from peacekeeping missions to diplomatic interventions over the past five decades.
He noted that such interventions span countries including Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. According to him, these efforts underscore Nigeria’s position as a pillar of ECOWAS and reflect its enduring commitment to peace, democracy, and regional stability.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
April 9, 2026
