Abstract
Corruption is a global challenge that undermines development, stability, and social cohesion. It affects public trust and human suffering and hinders efforts to establish a sustainable and inclusive economy. Despite numerous institutional efforts, such as the establishment of anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), corruption persists at high levels. Therefore, this study investigates how ethical leadership contributes to the development and enforcement of anti-corruption measures, fosters a culture of accountability within Nigerian organisations, and addresses the challenges associated with implementing ethical leadership in a corruption-prone environment. The study recommends the application of ethical leadership at the national level to combat corruption in Nigeria. While ethical leadership offers a transformative approach to combating corruption, its successful implementation requires strong institutional backing, transparency, and the commitment of the leaders to adopt the ethical leadership style and lead by example.