Olukoyede Urges Media to Lead Fight Against Corruption

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called on media practitioners across Nigeria to leverage their platforms in exposing corrupt and fraudulent practices in all sectors of society.

Olukoyede gave the charge while addressing the 12th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Warri, Delta State. Speaking through the EFCC’s Assistant Commander and Head of Public Affairs, Benin Zonal Directorate, ACE 1 Williams Oseghale, Olukoyede stressed the pivotal role of the media in combating corruption and financial crimes.

He commended ACSPN for bringing issues of corruption, governance, and media to the forefront, recalling that the nation’s early media pioneers, including Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Anthony Enahoro, used their platforms to challenge colonialism, social injustice, and military misrule.

“The Nigeria media remains a reference point in patriotism and nationalism. Current media practitioners should emulate their predecessors, engage in investigative journalism, and expose the activities of fraudsters who defraud innocent citizens and siphon public funds,” Olukoyede said.

He added that the media fulfills its constitutional mandate as the Fourth Estate of the Realm only when it holds government accountable and educates citizens on the adverse effects of corruption. Olukoyede also urged Nigerians to uphold accountability, transparency, and due process to ensure good governance.

Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji, President of ACSPN, said the conference theme was significant, noting that corruption undermines good governance, economic development, social justice, and public trust. He emphasized that the 2025 conference provided a platform for critical discussions to advance communication scholarship and practice both in Nigeria and globally.