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

This decision was contained in a communique issued on Wednesday in Abuja at the end of NACIWA’s 7th Annual General Assembly, which was signed by representatives of all ECOWAS member states.

The communique affirmed that the AGA adopted new guidelines concerning borderless investigations, asset tracing, recovery, and management across the Economic Community of West African States.

The communique extended commendation to Olukoyede for providing remarkable leadership and commitment to tackling trans-border economic and financial crimes throughout the sub-region during his first term.

It stated that Olukoyede and other members of the Executive Committee, whose first three-year term concluded at the end of the 7th AGA, were re-elected through a consensus renewal of their mandates.

This renewal was justified: “This is owing to their optimal and exemplary performance for another term of three years.”

The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to international and regional frameworks, including the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight against Corruption, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, stressing the importance of regional cooperation in asset recovery, mutual legal assistance, and information exchange.

The Assembly urged Member Institutions to strengthen their coordination with national financial intelligence units and other law enforcement agencies. It noted that the 7th AGA coincided with the commemoration of 50 years of ECOWAS, symbolizing renewed regional unity and collaboration.

The communique specifically called on Member Institutions to take all necessary steps to domesticate and operationalize the ECOWAS Protocol within their national systems to ensure strict alignment with regional commitments.

Furthermore, it stressed the crucial need for continued collaboration with civil society organizations, youth, and media networks to enhance advocacy and increase public participation in the fight against corruption across West Africa.

The 7th AGA concluded by expressing deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his steadfast support and for formally declaring the Assembly open on Tuesday.

During his opening address, President Tinubu called on ECOWAS to take a decisive stance by designating resource theft, particularly illegal mining and mineral smuggling, as international crimes. He issued a stern warning, stating that this menace “posed a grave threat to the peace, stability, and economic prosperity of the subregion.”

The President’s call for action was explicit: “The time has come for ECOWAS to designate resource theft, illegal mining and stealing of minerals as an international crime that threatens the stability of the region.”

He further urged the Assembly to focus efforts on sensitizing the world against the trade in stolen minerals from West Africa.