The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, welcomed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, on June 20, 2024, in Abuja. The courtesy visit aimed to discuss areas of collaboration between ECOWAS and the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA). During the visit, Mr. Olukoyede informed ECOWAS about the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of NACIWA and sought collaboration on this event.
In 2022, Nigeria’s EFCC was elected as the Chair of NACIWA, an establishment facilitated by ECOWAS. This visit underscored both institutions' ongoing commitment to addressing regional challenges such as terrorism, judicial corruption, and extraterritorial crime investigations.
Discussions during the meeting focused on enhancing regional cooperation to combat terrorism, disrupt terrorist financing, and address judicial corruption through structural reforms. Strengthening collaboration with national anti-corruption institutions and fostering cross-border cooperation to tackle illicit financial flows and cross-border crime were also highlighted.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah emphasized that terrorism remains a major threat in West Africa. He noted the complexities of tracking and disrupting terrorist financing across borders and stressed the necessity of collaborative efforts with neighboring countries given recent political developments in the region. He added that addressing judicial corruption is critical for promoting good governance since corruption undermines judicial integrity and facilitates “cash and carry justice,” where decisions are influenced by financial incentives rather than the rule of law.
Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede reiterated his commitment to combating economic and financial crimes while emphasizing EFCC's good track record. He highlighted the strong relationship between security and economic stability: “Upon assuming office, I pledged to assist in addressing the challenges of corruption and ensuring peace in our country and the region. We must work together to synergize our efforts and move the Commission and our nations forward.” He also stressed supporting NACIWA's mandate and revitalizing its activities.
Efforts to fight corruption are supported by various ECOWAS protocols and initiatives. The Directorate of Political Affairs collaborates with partners including USAID to support NACIWA's 6th Annual General Assembly. This assembly aims to develop guidelines on asset recovery and borderless investigations to enhance regional efforts against corruption.
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