This research presents a forensic-institutional investigation of financial reporting in Nigeria, proposing epistemic integrity as a fundamental requirement for the legitimacy of disclosures. The study transcends mere technical adherence to International Financial Reporting Standards by conceptualising financial statements as institutionalised knowledge assertions, the veracity of which hinges on enforcement credibility, governance alignment, and regulatory independence. The study elucidates the emergence of earnings manipulation through the interplay of managerial incentives, audit limitations, ownership concentration, and political economy dynamics, integrating agency theory, institutional theory, signalling theory, and regulatory capture perspectives. It contends that formal regulatory complexity, supported by organisations like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, does not inherently provide substantive openness when enforcement capacity and insulation are inadequate. The study redefines forensic accounting as a proactive structural deterrent integrated into regular monitoring instead of a reactive investigative instrument. It suggests a forensic-institutional framework focused on credible punishments, audit accountability, incentive realignment, and protection for whistleblowers. This study reframes disclosure credibility as a public epistemic good, contributing to theoretical discussions on financial reporting integrity in emerging markets and delineating systemic reforms required to enhance market trust and capital allocation efficiency. 

Keywords: Epistemic Integrity, Forensic–Institutional Analysis, Earnings Manipulation, Regulatory Enforcement, Disclosure Credibility.