The Ethics and Compliance Officers Association of Africa (ECOA) has cautioned against what it described as agenda-driven attacks on public institutions undergoing reform, urging the Federal Government to protect such institutions from unverified allegations.
The association expressed concern over recent claims against the leadership of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), noting that reform efforts often attract resistance from vested interests affected by tighter controls.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Secretary, Prof. Babatunde Akinsanya, ECOA said institutional reforms typically disrupt entrenched practices and close loopholes previously exploited within public systems.
According to the association, the allegations against the Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, who has been in office for about one year, lack logical and evidential basis.
It said no verifiable banking details, transaction records, procurement trails or identifiable counterparties had been provided to support claims linking the BPP boss to an extraordinary number of bank accounts.
Akinsanya noted that public procurement operates within clearly defined statutory frameworks, making it necessary for allegations of large-scale corruption to be supported by credible facts.
“Institutional reform inevitably unsettles vested interests. When access is restricted and old privileges are lost, resistance often follows,” he said.
ECOA urged the Federal Government, oversight bodies and the public to exercise restraint and discernment in responding to accusations that appear driven by disruption rather than evidence.
The association warned that allowing such allegations to dominate public discourse could weaken critical institutions at a time when transparency, efficiency and confidence in public procurement remain national priorities.
While reaffirming its commitment to accountability and anti-corruption efforts, ECOA stressed that justice must be evidence-based and guided by due process, not speculation or media trials.
It called on stakeholders to distinguish between genuine whistleblowing and resistance to reform, adding that public officials should be held accountable when facts exist and protected when allegations lack proof.
The association also urged the leadership of the BPP to remain focused on its reform mandate, noting that sustained institutional strengthening would better serve Nigeria’s governance and development objectives.
