EFCC Chairman Bawa Re-Elected NACIWA President As ECOWAS Unveils Bold Anti-Corruption Blueprint

The Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) has re-elected the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, as its President.

The re-election took place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, during NACIWA’s Annual General Assembly (AGA) held in Abuja, Nigeria.

At the meeting, member states also approved new ECOWAS guidelines on borderless investigations, asset tracing, recovery, and management, marking a major step toward enhanced regional cooperation in the fight against corruption.

According to the communiqué issued at the end of the assembly and endorsed by representatives of all ECOWAS member states, Olukoyede and his Executive Committee were re-elected by consensus for another three-year term, in recognition of their commitment and performance in advancing cross-border anti-corruption initiatives across West Africa.

The Assembly urged member states to adopt and domesticate the new ECOWAS anti-corruption framework in their national systems to ensure a harmonized regional approach to asset recovery and investigative collaboration.

Reaffirming its commitment to the anti-graft fight, NACIWA restated 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).

Delegates called for stronger synergy among national financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, and member institutions to boost intelligence sharing and asset recovery efforts.

The 7th AGA coincided with ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary, which delegates described as a symbol of renewed unity and collaboration across the sub-region.

In his goodwill message, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who declared the event open on October 14, 2024, was commended for his unwavering support. Tinubu had earlier urged ECOWAS to classify resource theft, illegal mining, and mineral smuggling as international crimes, warning that they pose significant threats to regional peace and economic development.

The Assembly also approved the admission of new NACIWA members, including Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau, and welcomed CPC Cabo Verde as a new institutional participant.