Taidob College in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has named a 172-metre street in the institution in honour of Jim Osayande Obazee, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Investigator, recognising his contributions to educational growth and the development of Nigeria as a whole.
The Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Professor Jonathan Babalola, who commissioned the road during the school graduation and prize-giving ceremony held on Wednesday, August 20, eulogised Obazee for his steadfast support, genuine commitment, and belief in the mission of shaping young minds for a brighter future.
Announcing the award of the road via a 13th August 2025 letter, signed by the Director of Taidob College, Obawumi Jiboku, he described Obazee as a lover of education, a parent, and a steadfast supporter of the institution who has made contributions to the school. He stated that the school’s Board and Management valued his outstanding impact on its journey and so has decided to honour him.
“The college management has resolved to name the newly commissioned 172-metre road leading to the college auditorium in your honour. This is more than a name on a signpost; it is a lasting symbol of gratitude and a testament to the critical role you have played in our story”.
“The road will henceforth be known as Jim Osayande Obazee Road, serving as a daily reminder to all who pass through our gates of the value of service, integrity, and dedication to the common good. We are confident that this gesture will reflect a deep appreciation and immortalise your place in the history of our esteemed college”.
The honour by Taidob College, Abeokuta, brought to 55 the number of awards bestowed on Obazee in recognition of works, achievements and contributions to the accounting profession, the country and the world as a whole, both at the FRC, and especially in his sterling performance while investigating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other Government Business Entities (GBEs) in 2014 and 2023.
The naming of the road in his honour came on the heels of the Gold Award in the Public Service Category by ThisNigeria Newspaper in 2024, the Outstanding Investigator of the Year award by Top Society Magazine, published by Agii Multimedia Concept, United Kingdom, and the Outstanding Investigator of the Year 2024 award by the Blueprint Newspaper’s Impact Series and Awards on 22nd July 2025.
The outcome of his investigation of the CBN in 2014 led to the removal of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Governor of the CBN, while the investigation of the said apex bank, since 2023, led to the sack of Godwin Emefiele and his four deputies.
Eric Osagie, the Publisher of ThisNigeria Newspaper, in the letter, conveying the Gold Award in Public Service, stated, “This is to notify you of your emergence as Gold Winner in the Public Service Category in recognition of your laudable contribution over the years to nation building, deploying your professional knowledge and personal sacrifice in the service of the Country. “This Nigeria” Newspaper stated that Obazee won the Gold Prize for Public Service “for your courage, forthrightness in the discharge of your duties and service to your fatherland”.
Those honoured alongside Obazee by “This Nigeria Newspaper are the FCT Minister, Nyessom Wike, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state, Governor Bassey Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state, and Comrade Issa Aremu, the Director-General, Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies, at a ceremony chaired by the former head of state, Retired General Abdusalami Abubakar.
Top Society Magazine, published by Agii Multimedia Concept, UK, stated that Obazee merited its Outstanding Investigator of the Year award, which will be bestowed on him on August 25th, due to his exceptional investigative skills to handle high-profile investigations, impactful outcomes, promoting high integrity and ethical standards in public service, and his dedication and tenacity.
In a letter signed by the duo of Isaac Ifeanyichukwu Agwazim, the Convener, Top Society Man of the Year, and Oluwafunmilayo Ogedengbe, the General Manager, said the above achievements underscored “why you, Jim Osayande Obazee, is nominated for the Outstanding Investigator of the Year award”.
“You have demonstrated remarkable investigative skills, uncovering significant information and evidence in complex cases, including that of the embattled CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Your commitment to integrity and ethical standards in investigation ensures that your findings are credible and respected.
While commending Obazee’s investigations, he noted that “The investigations led by you have resulted in impactful outcomes such as policy changes, accountability, and justice being served, having contributed significantly to public service by exposing corruption, fraud, and other malpractices, thereby promoting transparency and accountability Your dedication and tenacity in pursuing truth and justice, often in the face of challenge and obstacles, exemplify his commitment to his role”.
Blueprint Newspaper praised Obazee’s fearless pursuit of institutional accountability, transparency and governance reforms as it pertained to his activities in his probe of Emefiele and the apex bank.
Salisu Umar, the managing director of Blueprint, in a July 10, 2025 letter, stated, “Your fearless pursuit of institutional accountability, transparency and governance reform, especially as it pertains to your assignment as the Special Investigator into the activities of the CBN and related entities, has captured national attention and earned the admiration of millions. Your work has deepened public confidence in the reform efforts of the current administration and reaffirmed the critical role of due diligence in upholding the values of public service”.
“We congratulate you on this honour, which reflects the high esteem in which the Nigerian public and the media community hold your investigative courage and professional tenacity”, stated Umar.
An excited Obazee stated, “Once you become convinced that shadows are beautiful, irretrievable darkness becomes your reality. It is important to note that the institutional environment of darkness loathes accountability because accounting is law in figures, history in qualitative disclosures, and surgery in interpretations.
He states that naming the street in the school after him and awards from ThisNigeria Newspaper, Top Society Magazine, and the Blueprint newspaper mean that there are still some sane minds who believe that shadows are not beautiful.
“I am sincerely grateful and humbled by this gesture. The kind words in the letters conveying the reason for the honousr are a strong reminder that I must continue to be steadfast in my efforts, irrespective of how rough and ridiculous the road may be”, he said, as he assured that the recognition would remain a source of encouragement to continue investing in young people, whom he described as the hope of Nigeria.
President Tinubu appointed Obazee to investigate and prepare for reform, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other related entities, and also other key Government Business Entities (GBEs), including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigeria Gas Company Limited, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) and others.
Obazee’s appointment is rooted in section 15(5) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended, to block the leakages in CBN and others, and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments (whether private or public) to the President.
The letter reads: “By the fundamental objective outlined in Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this administration is, today, continuing the fight against corruption by appointing you as a Special Investigator, to investigate the CBN and Related Entities. This appointment shall be with immediate effect, and you are to report directly to my office”.
“The full terms of your engagement as Special Investigator shall be communicated to you in due course but, require that you immediately take steps to ensure the strengthening and probity of key Government Business Entities (GBEs), further block leakages in CBN and related GBEs and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments (whether private or public).
Obazee’s appointment was based on his previous investigation of the CBN in 2014, the outcome of which led to the removal of the then-CBN Governor, and current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and his work at the Department of State Service (DSS) where he led a team of experts constituted by the Secret Service police in December 2022.
Obazee, who led the country to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2012, instituted the National Code of Corporate Governance (NCGG) at the FRC in 2016 and also exposed the scandal in the telecom giant, MTN, through which four banks used fake Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI) to repatriate billions of dollars, was removed from the FRC in controversial circumstances regarding the NCGG in January 2017 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The four banks, Citibank, the then Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC Nigeria and Standard Chartered Bank, were fined N5.87 billion, while the apex bank also ordered MTN to refund $8 billion. Among the major investigations he undertook at the FRC were those of the Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Access Bank, the recovery of the assets stolen by the former managers of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the investigation of Stanbic IBTC Plc, leading to the restatement of their financial statements and payment of penalties.
Obazee is the first Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the FRC and was responsible for the setting, monitoring and enforcement of financial reporting standards and Corporate Governance practices in both the Public and Private Sectors of the Nigerian economy. He led the International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR) of the United Nations (UNCTAD-ISAR) as its 29th Chairman. ISAR is the only intergovernmental working group devoted to corporate transparency and accounting issues at the corporate level.
ISAR addresses a variety of issues in corporate accounting and reporting to improve the global comparability and reliability of corporate reports. He was a member of the United Nations Consultative Group on Accounting by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and also of the United Nations Consultative Group on Compliance, Monitoring, and Enforcement.
