The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has commended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, for his leadership and efforts in combating economic and financial crimes.
Badejo-Okusanya gave the commendation in Abuja on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, when she led a delegation of the NBA on a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s corporate headquarters.
The NBA president praised the commission’s work in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, as well as its efforts to recover proceeds of crime.
“When we see things that are done and done properly, we appreciate them. We followed carefully what is being done at EFCC, especially the statistics in recoveries and convictions. We can see, feel, and hear the impact of his works,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya also commended the EFCC and other stakeholders over Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, saying the development had strengthened the country’s business environment.
She said the development would improve confidence in Nigeria’s financial system while making cross-border transactions easier and less costly.
“For us as lawyers, we are grateful for the removal of the country from the FATF grey list. This brings out increased inflows. Our clients are able to do business. Cross border- transactions are now seamless and less expensive. We are grateful to the Commission and we hope for more of such positive impact. We believe the efforts of the Commission will not regress,” she said.
The NBA president reaffirmed the association’s willingness to deepen its partnership with the EFCC, particularly through knowledge sharing and the provision of professional expertise.
She stressed that an effective legal system was essential to economic development, arguing that a society without the rule of law could not achieve sustained economic activity or an improved quality of life.
“We cannot gain in terms of economic activities, have a strong society and a better quality of life,” she said.
“We are all part of the elimination of criminal activities and towards gaining a lawful and orderly society.”
Badejo-Okusanya pledged the NBA’s expertise and services to the commission, while calling for closer cooperation between both institutions to strengthen the rule of law and combat economic and financial crimes.
Responding, Olukoyede attributed Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list to the combined efforts of the EFCC and other relevant government agencies, while appreciating the NBA for its support.
“Most of the works that led to Nigeria’s removal from the list were done by EFCC and in collaboration with all our sister agencies. Nigeria is now on a better footing in the world financial ecosystem. We appreciate the support of the NBA because without your support, it would have been very difficult for us to achieve such a feat,” he said.
The EFCC chairman also said the commission conducts its investigations within the confines of the law and remains accountable to the Nigerian public.
“One promise I made to Nigerians is to use the instrumentality of this law to stipulate the economy and pledge to work within the confines of law. We are responsible to the public,” Olukoyede said.
He reiterated the commission’s focus on preventing financial crimes, saying the EFCC would increasingly intervene before funds were stolen rather than waiting until after suspected fraud had occurred.
“We are committed to this and this is why a whole Department, Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, FRAC, was established,” he said.
Olukoyede further pledged to strengthen the commission’s partnership with the NBA, particularly in efforts to promote ethical standards within the legal profession and deepen institutional cooperation in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
