WorldStage– Mr Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s premier anti-corruption agency, has charged the media to uphold editorial integrity and constructive reportage towards the enhancement of 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 his involvement in the disappearance of about $35 million from national treasury, meant for the establishment a refinery and regretted that the reportage that broke out in the newspapers the following day was “EFCC Witch-hunts Opposition,” bemoaning the fact that the media spared no time to look at the facts that necessitated the arrest.
While declaring that the anti-corruption fight is insulated from partisan politics and yielding impressive results, he called on all citizens and sectors of the polity, especially the media to support it.
“That edifice that VON is occupying is a proceeds of crime that was 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 methods is through the media.
“Let our reporting be responsible. When I arraign members of the ruling party, nobody makes noise but the moment I see somebody who belongs to the other side that stole money and take him to court, all hell will break loose. I want to believe that you are raising ethical standards to reinforce editorial integrity,” he said.
Besides corruption, he pointed to the evil of terrorist financing and disclosed that the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, which he chairs, was established to lead the charge of anti-corruption agencies in the sub-region against terrorist financing.
“I am happy to let you know that we have established what we call 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, so within the next few months we will commence operations, so that there will be no embargo for us going to other parts of West Africa to carry out investigations.
“We are going to share intelligence and evidence that will help us to work together to stabilize this part of Africa.This is our next focus,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director General/CEO, Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace appreciated Olukoyede for honouring his invitation and stated that Nigeria as a founding member of ECOWAS has consistently played a defining role in the stability of the region, ranging from peace-keeping missions to diplomatic interventions in the past 50 years.
Such interventions he said, include those in Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia, adding that these efforts not only show that Nigeria is the pillar of ECOWAS but points to the enduring commitment of the country to peace, democracy and regional stability.
