The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called on media organisations to maintain high ethical standards and ensure balanced reporting in coverage of the nation’s anti-corruption efforts.
Olukoyede made the appeal on Thursday, April 9, 2026, while delivering a goodwill message at the VON Forum 2025, themed “51 Years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS.” The event was organised in Abuja by the Voice of Nigeria (VON) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Speaking at the forum, the EFCC chairman emphasised the importance of responsible journalism in strengthening the fight against corruption, economic crimes, and financial misconduct across the country.
He recounted a situation where the Commission arrested a politically exposed individual linked to the alleged disappearance of about $35 million from public funds earmarked for the establishment of a refinery. According to him, rather than focusing on the facts surrounding the case, some newspapers framed the development as a political attack.
Olukoyede expressed concern that the headlines the following day suggested that the EFCC was targeting political opponents, instead of examining the evidence that led to the arrest.
While reiterating that the Commission’s anti-corruption campaign is not driven by partisan considerations, he stressed that the effort is already producing tangible results and requires the support of all sectors of society, particularly the media.
Pointing to the headquarters of the Voice of Nigeria as an example, Olukoyede said the facility itself was acquired with funds recovered from a former government official involved in corruption.
“That building where VON operates today is a recovered asset from a past public official. It shows that the anti-corruption fight is yielding results,” he said, urging journalists to help promote national stability through responsible reporting.
He added that public reactions often differ depending on the political affiliation of suspects involved in corruption cases. According to him, prosecutions involving members of the ruling party rarely attract controversy, but cases involving opposition figures sometimes generate accusations of political persecution.
Olukoyede therefore urged media professionals to strengthen editorial integrity and uphold professional standards in their coverage of corruption-related matters.
Beyond corruption, the EFCC chairman also highlighted the growing threat of terrorist financing in West Africa. He revealed that the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA)—which he currently chairs—was created to coordinate regional efforts among anti-corruption agencies to tackle the menace.
He disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted the network’s protocol, which will soon allow member agencies to collaborate more closely on investigations across the region.
According to him, the initiative will facilitate intelligence sharing, evidence exchange, and joint operations among anti-corruption bodies in West Africa in order to strengthen the fight against illicit financial flows linked to terrorism.
“We will soon begin operations that will enable us to carry out investigations across West Africa without barriers. Through intelligence sharing and cooperation, we aim to support regional stability,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, thanked Olukoyede for attending the forum and commended Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to the ECOWAS community.
Ndace noted that since the establishment of the regional bloc more than five decades ago, Nigeria has played a significant role in maintaining peace and democratic stability across West Africa.
He highlighted Nigeria’s involvement in peacekeeping and diplomatic interventions in several countries, including Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
According to him, these efforts demonstrate Nigeria’s continued commitment to promoting democracy, peace, and stability across the sub-region while reinforcing its position as a key pillar within ECOWAS.
