ECOWAS moves to harmonise anti-corruption efforts across borders
…as EFCC boss retains seat as NACIWA President
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sought to unify the region’s fight against corruption with the adoption of new guidelines on cross-border investigations, asset tracing, recovery, and management.
The initiative, endorsed at the 2025 Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) in Abuja, aims to strengthen collaboration among member states and create a harmonised framework for tackling economic and financial crimes across the subregion.
A communiqué issued on Wednesday, during the 7th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the network in Abuja, urged all ECOWAS countries to integrate the guidelines into their national frameworks for unified implementation.
According to the resolution, member institutions reaffirmed their dedication to 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).
The Assembly also emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in asset recovery, mutual legal assistance, and information exchange.
It encouraged anti-corruption agencies to strengthen collaboration with national financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), youth groups, and media networks to enhance advocacy and public engagement in the anti-corruption drive.
Member institutions were also urged to domesticate and operationalise the ECOWAS Protocol within their national legal systems to align with regional commitments.
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The communiqué also announced the re-election of Ola Olukoyede, Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as President of NACIWA for another three-year term.
His re-election, achieved through a consensus decision of member institutions, renewed the mandates of the Executive Committee members who had just completed their first tenure.
Olukoyede was commended for his “remarkable leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to combating trans-border economic and financial crimes” across the subregion.
