Obasanjo Addresses Corruption's Impact on Development

On September 29, 2026, former President Olusegun Obasanjo addressed the issue of corruption while chairing the public presentation and launch of “Unexplained Wealth: A Trilogy of Nigerian Financial Law,” authored by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Wahab Shittu, at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. Obasanjo asserted that corruption is detrimental to development and that the poor suffer the most in corrupt societies.

He traced his commitment to fighting corruption back to his military career, where he served as a prosecutor and was involved in a court-martial concerning corruption. His anti-corruption efforts intensified after his presidency when he collaborated with Peter Eigen, a former World Bank official, to establish Transparency International.

Obasanjo recalled their efforts to gain support from Bob McNamara, who initially deemed their mission impossible but later promised assistance contingent on demonstrable results. Their campaign led to significant changes, including the OECD's decision to stop allowing companies to deduct bribes as tax expenses.