EFCC boss calls for strong whistleblower protection law
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has urged the National Assembly to enact comprehensive legislation to protect whistleblowers and strengthen transparency in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
Olukoyede made the appeal on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Calabar, Cross River State, during a nationwide sensitization programme on the implementation of Nigeria’s whistleblowing policy.
Speaking on the theme, “Benefits of the Whistleblowing Policy in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria,” he emphasized the urgent need for a robust legal framework that shields whistleblowers from victimization and removes bureaucratic barriers to accessing financial rewards.
He noted that individuals who expose corruption often risk their safety and livelihoods, stressing that only strong legislation can guarantee their protection. Olukoyede also lamented that within ECOWAS, only Ghana and Senegal have enacted specific whistleblower protection laws despite the region’s corruption challenges.
Represented by the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC Uyo, Assistant Commander (ACE I) Oshodi Johnson, he added that whistleblowing should be driven by the desire to prevent looting of public funds, not merely by financial incentives. He further urged lawmakers to domesticate Article 33 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which mandates protection for individuals who report corruption.
The event brought together participants from anti-corruption agencies, the legislature, security organizations, and other key stakeholders committed to combating corruption in Nigeria.
