By joshua Taiwo Adebayo to Journalists: Hold Power Accountable, Protect Sources in Reporting Illicit Financial Flows
Investigative journalist Taiwo Adebayo has charged Nigerian journalists to go beyond routine reporting by fact-checking, seeking expert opinions, and protecting whistleblowers in order to expose Illicit Financial Flows, IFFs, and strengthen accountability.
Adebayo made the call on Day 1 of a two-day workshop for 30 media practitioners organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, with funding from the European Union under the SecFin Africa Project. The workshop, held 25th–26th June 2026 at Hawthorn Suites, Abuja, is themed “Strengthening the Capacity of CSOs and Journalists to Contribute to Addressing IFFs in Nigeria.”
Presenting a paper titled “Investigative Journalism and What the Media Can Do to Contribute to Addressing IFFs in Nigeria,” Adebayo said the media’s role is threefold: “holding the powerful accountable; giving the public the information needed to ask questions; and offering leads to law enforcement to cause investigation/prosecution.”
“Basic reporting can have investigative elements — fact-checking, open source checks, seeking reactions, etc. ALL JOURNALISTS SHOULD DO THIS!” he told participants.
He urged journalists to enhance their understanding by getting expert opinions and to uphold integrity so whistleblowers and other sources feel safe to share information. “Protect your sources and protect your whistleblowers,” Adebayo stressed.
Adebayo warned that IFFs, money laundering, ML, and terrorism financing, TF, devastate livelihoods and undermine peace and democracy.
“Even when government has the best intentions, its capacity is undermined by IFFs. The media must have obligations to uphold accountability and must facilitate reporting on IFFs/ML in an enlightened way that provokes people to see its effects,” he said.
He advised journalists to rely on open data sources including CAC search, NG Check, Open Sanctions, Open Corporates, ICIJ Offshore database, and court documents. He also urged them to focus on public procurement, the bidding process, beneficial owners, and illicit practices around contracts.
Adebayo further called on media organisations to invest in their practitioners by funding investigative projects and adding value to stories through data and context.
ANEEJ acknowledged partners supporting the workshop, including the European Union through the SecFin Africa Project, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, SCUML.