The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has applauded the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, for what it described as impactful and transformative leadership in the nation’s anti-corruption fight.
ICAN President and Chairman of Council, Mallam Haruna Yahaya, gave the commendation on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, when he led members of the Institute’s management team on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Yahaya praised Olukoyede for achievements that, according to him, go beyond statistics to restore both domestic and international confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
“You have recorded significant milestones worthy of commendation. This includes unprecedented asset recovery running into hundreds of billions of naira, encompassing high-value properties, reaffirming the enduring principle that crime does not pay, and thousands of convictions secured through diligent investigation and effective prosecution,” Yahaya said.
He further noted that enhanced international cooperation under Olukoyede’s leadership has strengthened Nigeria’s global financial credibility and alignment with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards, culminating in the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.
“This achievement sends clear signals to citizens, investors and the world that accountability, professionalism and integrity are once again central to Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight. We salute the courage, discipline and clarity of purpose that your leadership represents,” he added.
As part of deepening collaboration, Yahaya outlined six high-impact areas for partnership between ICAN and the EFCC. These include forensic accounting and financial investigation; capacity building and specialised training; joint training programmes for EFCC officers in forensic accounting, anti-money laundering, compliance, data analytics, cryptocurrency investigation and emerging fraud typologies.
Other proposed areas are expert witness and litigation support, public sector financial oversight and early warning systems, research, policy and technical advisory services, as well as ethics, prevention and public awareness initiatives.
“The fight against economic and financial crimes is most effective when investigators and professional accountants work hand in hand. When law enforcement authority is backed with deep financial intelligence, technical rigour and ethical discipline, corruption has fewer places to hide,” Yahaya observed.
In his response, Olukoyede welcomed the proposed collaboration, describing it as imperative to the Commission’s mandate.
“We know what our mandate is — to build a Nigeria that is free of financial crimes and corruption — and I believe it aligns with what you do. It is important for us to work together. We are going to set up a joint committee that will determine the content and structure of our collaboration and come up with a Memorandum of Understanding,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman stressed the growing importance of forensic accounting in investigations and prosecutions, particularly in complex financial crimes, noting that expert witnesses from the accounting profession remain vital to securing convictions.
However, Olukoyede expressed concern over the role of some professionals as enablers of corruption, urging ICAN to strengthen internal disciplinary mechanisms.
“It is sad that many professionals have become enablers of financial crimes. In some major fraud cases, including pension fraud and cases involving senior public officials, chartered accountants were implicated. The essence of having a professional body is to uphold ethics,” he said.
He disclosed that the Commission would provide ICAN with a list of members indicted, prosecuted or convicted for financial crimes, stressing the need for the Institute to take decisive action against erring members.
“We need to discourage such bad eggs. A situation where convicted professionals continue to practise without suspension or delisting undermines the integrity of the profession. This is something we must address together,” Olukoyede stated.
The visit signals a renewed push for stronger synergy between law enforcement and professional bodies in advancing Nigeria’s anti-corruption agenda.
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