President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for achieving new benchmarks in its anti-corruption fight, including recording over $\text{N}500$ billion in asset recovery and securing thousands of convictions within the first two years of his administration. The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, delivered the commendation during his keynote address at the 7th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges in Abuja on Monday, October 20, 2025. The workshop’s theme was “Enhancing Justice in the Fight against Economic and Financial Crimes.”
The President stated that his administration has prioritized public accountability by strengthening anti-corruption agencies and granting them the necessary independence to execute their mandates, a commitment evident in the EFCC’s performance. He highlighted that the over 7,000 convictions recorded and the substantial recovered assets have been strategically reinvested into the economy to fund critical social investment programmes, including the Students Loan and Consumer Credit schemes. Stressing the judiciary’s indispensable role, Tinubu called on judges and justices to commit fully to the anti-crime fight, noting that the society must have “full confidence” that those who pilfer resources will be subjected to the rule of law through a fair and transparent adjudication process.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, expressed gratitude for the executive support but voiced serious concern over the protracted, long-winding courtroom procedures that hinder the commission’s progress in high-profile corruption cases. Olukoyede pointed out that cases filed 15 or 20 years ago sometimes appear “in limbo, moving in circles.” He specifically lamented the “antiques” used by counsel for politically exposed persons (PEPs) to stall proceedings, which include feigning chronic ailments supported by medical reports, contesting service of charges, and procuring technical adjournments. Furthermore, the EFCC boss detailed his disturbance over a trend where some state high court judges issue orders to apprehend the Commission’s powers to investigate money laundering cases, matters clearly outside their jurisdiction, in addition to the problem of contradictory decisions from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
Echoing the commitment to justice, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the NJI Board of Governors, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, affirmed that the annual workshop aims to renew their collective commitment, strengthen institutional capacity, and deepen public confidence. She emphasized that the judiciary’s decisions have a profound impact on the nation’s stability, requiring judicial officers to appreciate the “evolving dynamics of financial systems, the complexities of the global economy, and the rapid technological innovations” exploited by criminals. Justice Kekere-Ekun underscored that the fight against economic and financial crimes cannot succeed if the judiciary falters, as every ruling must reflect the capacity of the law to hold all persons accountable, regardless of status or power.
Adding his voice to the call for efficacy, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, charged that for the anti-corruption war to be won, justice must be swift. He stated that the gathering represents a collective resolve to build a justice system that not only punishes corruption but actively prevents and eradicates its rule, concluding that “When corruption thrives, justice withers. When justice sleeps, corruption leads.”
