Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for stronger collaboration with the media and civil society groups in the fight against corruption, stressing that public ownership of the campaign is key to long-term success.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede made the appeal on Wednesday at the 2025 EFCC Media and Civil Society Organisations Capacity-Building Workshop held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He was represented by Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs.

Olukoyede said corruption cannot be defeated by the commission alone and highlighted the critical role of stakeholders in exposing financial crimes and shaping public understanding of the anti-graft struggle.

“The media and civil society organisations are very critical to the work of fighting economic and financial crimes,” Olukoyede said. “They are like the right ear and left ear of the same horse. They share a mandate of exposing shady practices and integrity gaps across the country.”

He added that the workshop was designed to deepen knowledge of legal, operational and media issues surrounding the EFCC’s work. The goal, he said, is to build stronger partnerships that will help broaden public understanding and increase confidence in anti-corruption efforts.

“Equally important is the role of the media and CSOs in driving preventive frameworks of the commission,” Olukoyede said. “Public ownership of the fight against corruption remains the most potent and enduring strategy for sustaining the battle.”

The EFCC chairman also acknowledged the resistance that comes with tackling entrenched corruption.

“Without fear or favour, and in taking such a route, corruption is bound to fight back,” he said. “We cannot be rattled or intimidated. Right is might, and as is often said, conscience is an open wound; only the truth can heal.”

Challenges in prosecution

Ben Ubi, a director in the EFCC’s Legal and Prosecution Department, told participants that the commission’s sustained efforts have helped Nigeria shed its image as a haven for financial crimes.

He noted that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) once listed Nigeria among non-cooperating countries and territories, but the EFCC’s reforms and enforcement actions ensured the nation was not blacklisted.

“The painstaking efforts of the EFCC have kept Nigeria off the blacklist,” Ubi said. “This shows that determined enforcement can change global perceptions.”

Tackling new threats

The workshop also addressed emerging crimes such as cryptocurrency fraud. Sam Agbi Enahoro, an officer in the EFCC’s Cybercrime Section, warned participants against falling victim to fraudulent online schemes.

He explained the risks of cryptocurrency trading and the technical methods criminals use to exploit it.

“When it is too good to be true, please don’t do it,” Enahoro cautioned. He urged civil society groups and journalists to be vigilant in their dealings, noting that scammers often target people with promises of unrealistically high returns.

Partnership as a weapon

The EFCC emphasized that the fight against corruption goes beyond arrests and prosecutions. Building preventive systems, strengthening laws, and educating the public are equally important, officials said.

By involving the media and civil society, the commission hopes to promote transparency, accountability and public participation in governance.

Anti-graft experts say such partnerships are crucial in a country where corruption has weakened public institutions and fueled poverty. Stronger collaboration, they argue, can amplify public awareness and pressure leaders to uphold integrity.

For the EFCC, the message is clear: defeating corruption requires more than government effort. It takes collective responsibility from every sector of society.