The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has been re-elected as President of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA).
The re-election took place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, during the 7th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the network held in Abuja.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and endorsed by representatives of all ECOWAS member states, Olukoyede and other members of the Executive Committee were unanimously re-elected for another three-year term in recognition of their outstanding performance and commitment to cross-border anti-corruption collaboration in the region.
The Assembly also approved the adoption of the ECOWAS Guidelines on Borderless Investigations, Asset Tracing, Recovery, and Management — a framework designed to strengthen regional cooperation in fighting corruption and illicit financial flows. Member states were urged to integrate the guidelines into their national systems for harmonized implementation across West Africa.
Reaffirming its commitment to fighting corruption, the Assembly expressed continued support for the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight against Corruption, the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).
It also called for greater collaboration among financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, and member institutions to enhance asset recovery and information sharing.
The 7th AGA coincided with the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, which delegates described as a significant milestone for renewed unity and regional cooperation. Member states were encouraged to domesticate the ECOWAS Protocol on anti-corruption measures to align with the bloc’s objectives.
The Assembly further emphasized the importance of partnerships with civil society organizations, youth groups, and the media to promote public participation and strengthen advocacy in the anti-corruption campaign.
NACIWA also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support of the event and for officially declaring it open on Tuesday, October 14, 2024.
In his opening remarks, President Tinubu called on ECOWAS to classify resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling as international crimes, warning that these activities pose serious threats to peace and economic stability in the region.
The General Assembly additionally approved the admission of new members, including Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau, as well as the participation of CPC Cabo Verde as an institutional member of NACIWA.