NEWS
GLOBAL CONTROVERSY SURFACES AS PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU EMERGES AMONG TOP FINALISTS IN OCCRP/ICIR “CORRUPT PERSON OF THE YEAR 2024” NOMINATIONS WITH OVER 55,000 GLOBAL SUBMISSIONS
By @TheKELVINATOR, The Eyes Opener News | April 27, 2026
The 2024 edition of the widely discussed global anti-corruption nomination exercise conducted by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), in collaboration with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), has placed Nigeria at the center of international attention as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged among the top finalists in a global listing that has continued to generate debate across political and media circles.
The nomination process reportedly attracted more than 55,000 submissions from journalists, activists, and members of the public across different countries, aimed at highlighting individuals widely associated in public discourse with allegations, controversies, or governance concerns relating to corruption and accountability. At the end of the 2024 cycle, former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was announced as the overall “winner” of the list, further intensifying global reactions to the selection.
Alongside Assad, other prominent global figures were named as finalists, including William Ruto, President of Kenya; Joko Widodo, former President of Indonesia; Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh; and Gautam Adani, Indian business magnate and Chairman of the Adani Group.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inclusion stood out particularly in Nigeria’s political landscape, as he became the first sitting Nigerian president to ever appear on the final shortlist of the global nomination list. Reports surrounding the exercise indicate that he received the third-highest number of nominations based on submissions gathered from around the world, further elevating the attention directed toward his administration in international discussions.
The development has placed Nigeria prominently in global conversations on governance, transparency, and accountability, with observers noting that such lists, while not judicial or legal verdicts, often shape international perception due to their wide media coverage and public participation.
The 2024 listing once again underscores the growing influence of investigative journalism networks and global civic platforms in shaping narratives around political leadership and public accountability, especially as sitting heads of government and influential business figures increasingly find themselves subject to transnational scrutiny.