The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called on media practitioners across Nigeria to leverage their platforms to expose fraud, financial crimes, and corruption permeating all sectors of society.
Speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Warri, Delta State, Olukoyede highlighted the vital role of the media in strengthening governance and fighting corruption. He was represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC and Head of Public Affairs, Benin Zonal Directorate, ACE I Williams Oseghale.
Olukoyede praised media’s historical contribution to Nigeria’s struggles against colonialism, social injustice, and military rule, urging contemporary journalists to continue investigative reporting to hold leaders accountable. “I urge media practitioners to use their platforms to fight corruption and the twin evils of economic and financial crimes,” he said.
He emphasized that the media fulfills its constitutional mandate as the “Fourth Estate of the Realm” by educating the public on corruption’s dangers and supporting accountability and transparency efforts. Olukoyede called on citizens to embrace transparency and due process for corruption to be defeated collectively.
ACSPN President Professor Rotimi Williams Olatunji acknowledged challenges facing Nigerian media but lauded the conference as an avenue to explore solutions and advance communication scholarship.