Mr. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, a former Federal Commissioner of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has urged journalists to prioritise fact-finding in reporting, particularly on the controversy surrounding the alleged missing N34 trillion from federation revenue.
Agbonayinma said Nigerians deserved full disclosure on the issue and called on the media to intensify investigative efforts.
He spoke in Abuja after his investiture as Patron of the Association of Edo Journalists in Abuja.
Reports attributed to the World Bank indicate that total federation revenue rose to N84 trillion between 2023 and 2025, with about 41 per cent (N34.53 trillion) deducted before reaching the Federation Account.
However, the Federal Ministry of Finance has denied claims that the funds were missing or stolen, maintaining that the deductions were lawful “first-line charges,” statutory transfers, and security-related expenditures.
Reacting to the debate, Agbonayinma emphasised the role of journalism in promoting accountability and national development.
He urged journalists to go beyond official narratives and focus on independent investigation.
“Journalists must not only report what they are told, especially by government, but must dig deeper.
Investigative journalism is a service to humanity,” he said, adding that the media serve as a critical link between the government and the people.
The former lawmaker, who represented Oredo Federal Constituency, said Nigeria was at a crossroads, lamenting the country’s slow pace of development 66 years after independence.
“We are crawling, not walking. Our enemies are ourselves,” he said.
Agbonayinma described corruption as a “total cancer,” attributing the country’s challenges to internal failings rather than external forces.
He also called for unity across political lines, stressing that national recovery would require collective effort and patriotism.
“If we wait for Americans or the British to save us, we are deceiving ourselves. Nigerians excel abroad; we can do the same at home,” he said.
He urged citizens to pursue constitutional means to rebuild the country and realise a “Nigeria of our dreams.”
Agbonayinma commended the leadership and members of AEJA for the honour and pledged to work with the association to promote responsible journalism and national development.
