Olukoyede Urges Media to Champion Ethical Reporting in Nigeria’s Anti-Graft War

Abuja – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has tasked Nigeria’s media with upholding unwavering editorial integrity and delivering balanced, fact-driven coverage to bolster the nation’s battle against corruption and economic crimes.

Speaking on Thursday, April 9, at the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Forum 2025 in Abuja – themed “51 Years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS” – Olukoyede lamented sensationalist reporting that undermines public trust in anti-graft institutions. The event, hosted by VON in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, drew key stakeholders to reflect on Nigeria’s pivotal ECOWAS legacy.

Olukoyede spotlighted a glaring example: the EFCC’s arrest of a politically exposed person linked to the mysterious vanishing of approximately $35 million from the national treasury, funds earmarked for a refinery project. “The next day’s headlines screamed ‘EFCC Witch-hunts Opposition,'” he recounted, expressing frustration that journalists overlooked the evidence-driven rationale for the action. EFCC records confirm similar high-profile probes, including ongoing cases against figures from both ruling and opposition camps, with over N156 billion recovered in 2025 alone.

Insisting the anti-corruption drive remains apolitical and bears tangible fruits, Olukoyede pointed to the VON headquarters itself as recovered proceeds of crime. “That edifice you’re occupying came from a former government official’s loot – concrete proof our war is working,” he declared. Investigations trace it to a N10.8 billion fraud scheme, forfeited under court orders and repurposed for public good, symbolizing EFCC’s resolve amid Nigeria’s N12.6 trillion debt burden partly fueled by graft.

He implored citizens, particularly the media, to rally behind these efforts. “When we arraign ruling party members, there’s silence. But touch the opposition, and chaos erupts,” Olukoyede noted. “Let’s elevate ethical standards to reinforce editorial integrity – responsible reporting stabilizes our democracy.”

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Expanding to Regional Threats: Terrorist Financing in Crosshairs

Beyond domestic graft, Olukoyede unveiled ambitious sub-regional strategies. As Chairman of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) – launched in 2025 – he leads 15 member agencies in tackling terrorist financing, a scourge enabling groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. “ECOWAS has adopted our protocol,” he announced. “Soon, we’ll launch operations, sharing intelligence across borders for seamless probes – no more barriers in West Africa.”

This builds on NACIWA’s mandate, ratified at the 2025 Abuja summit, to harmonize asset recovery and disrupt illicit flows funding instability from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea. EFCC data shows Nigeria froze N8.5 billion in suspected terror funds last year, with cross-border collaborations yielding convictions in three cases.

Nigeria’s ECOWAS Anchor: A Legacy of Stability

VON Director General/CEO, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, set the tone in his welcome address, praising Nigeria’s “pillar” role in ECOWAS since 1975. From spearheading ECOMOG peacekeeping in Liberia (1990-1997) and Sierra Leone (1997-2000) – where over 10,000 Nigerian troops restored order – to diplomatic interventions in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, and beyond, Abuja’s commitments have quelled coups and fostered elections.

Ndace hailed Olukoyede’s presence as a testament to blending anti-corruption with regional peace. “Nigeria’s sacrifices underscore our enduring pledge to democracy and stability,” he said.

Olukoyede’s message resonates amid rising calls for media accountability. With EFCC securing 4,000 convictions in 2025 and probing 1,200 cases, balanced coverage could amplify gains, experts say. As Nigeria eyes ECOWAS leadership in 2027, ethical journalism remains a frontline ally.