Tinubu Applauds EFCC On Record-Breaking Achievements, Calls For Stronger Synergy Among Anti-Graft Stakeholders

BY MICHAEL AKINOLA 

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its record-breaking achievements in combating financial crimes, recovering illicit assets and strengthening Nigeria’s international financial standing and called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders in the anti-corruption corridor.

The President gave the applause in Abuja on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the 8th EFCC/National Judicial Institute, NJI Workshop for Judges and Justices.

The workshop is themed: “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.”

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu particularly commended the EFCC’s efforts in tackling cryptocurrency fraud and recovering virtual assets, noting that the Commission had demonstrated its determination to stay ahead of evolving criminal methods.

“The EFCC’s recent momentum in tackling cryptocurrency fraud and its commendable strides in recovering virtual assets is highly reassuring. These actions signal an agency that is proactive, forward-looking and resolved not to be outpaced by technological innovation,” he said.

In the first 34 months of the current administration of the EFCC, the Commission filed 14,476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions, which represents 75.1 percent conviction-to-filing ratio.

The EFCC equally recorded 1,370 convictions from 1,889 filings in the first half of 2026. In addition, the Commission recovered N1.233 trillion, $684,478,457.32, £373, 905.78, and €9,343,803.66 in monetary assets.

The President cited the successful prosecution and subsequent deportation of 192 foreigners arrested for cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud as evidence of the Commission’s commitment to combating technology-driven crimes.

He noted that the increasing sophistication of financial crimes, driven by blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, require continuous capacity building for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.

“Because these modern threat typologies are constantly mutating, law enforcement and judicial authorities must engage in continuous capacity building to effectively adapt and respond to these evolving threats. Adapting to the shifting dynamics of financial crime and realigning our investigative and prosecutorial strategies is critical to preventing institutional obsolescence,” he said.

President Tinubu also pledged the Federal Government’s support for judicial capacity development, stressing that an independent, progressive and reform-minded judiciary was indispensable to achieving meaningful progress in the anti-corruption campaign.

He, however, urged the judiciary to strengthen its capacity to adjudicate complex financial crime cases, assuring that his administration would continue to support the sector while respecting judicial independence.

He particularly expressed concern that major anti-corruption prosecutions lost on procedural technicalities could undermine public confidence in the justice system.

He urged the EFCC and the judiciary to continue to improve on prosecutorial discipline and close loopholes exploited by individuals seeking to frustrate trials.

He maintained that the fight against corruption should not be regarded as an Executive agenda alone, but as a collective responsibility of all arms of government.

Additionally, the President acknowledged that the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts had provided critical fiscal support for social intervention programmes, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, CREDICORP.

In his welcome remarks, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede said his administration has embarked on operational reforms that now enable the Commission to secure more recoveries and convictions.

He also stated that the EFCC is strengthening intelligence-led investigations, forensic capabilities, domestic and international cooperation, while deepening its understanding of emerging financial technologies.

“We do not seek simply to investigate more people; we seek to investigate more intelligently. We do not seek merely to prosecute more cases; we seek to prosecute cases that are properly investigated and capable of meeting the required standard of proof. Where assets are recovered, we seek to ensure that the recovery is lawful, transparent and sustainable,” he said.

The EFCC’s boss underscored institutional bottlenecks and procedural delays as some of the barriers to effective prosecution that paralyze complex financial crime proceedings, adding that frivolous adjournments and constant change of counsel stall the wheels of justice.

“When financial crime cases are allowed to drift indefinitely, the integrity of the process erodes. Evidence deteriorates and loses its cogency. Witnesses disappear, relocate, or suffer memory lapses. Public confidence in the judicial system completely evaporates. Justice endlessly delayed is accountability decisively defeated,” he said.

Olukoyede told the gathering that “adjudicating corruption cases requires an elevated standard of integrity, judicial courage, and an unswerving commitment to the rule of law. We continue to hold in the highest esteem those jurists who have consistently held the candle of justice aloft in these challenging times.

“We do not urge Your lordships to reinvent the wheel, nor do we suggest the manufacturing of evidence to secure convictions. We ask only for rigorous, expeditious adjudication. Before delivering judgment in any corruption matter, I urge you to resolve a few fundamental questions within your own conscience: Will this verdict encourage or deter financial crimes? How will this decision be measured by the verdict of judicial history decades from now? What colour will this judgment add to the enduring tapestry of your legacy?”

He said the goal of anti-corruption efforts was a more cohesive justice system where investigators know exactly what the courts require; prosecutors proactively anticipate evidentiary challenges; forensic specialists translate complex digital data into clear testimonies, and the judiciary understands the sophisticated methods used to perpetrate and conceal financial crime.

On her part, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun stressed the need for the judiciary to strengthen its capacity to handle emerging forms of financial crimes in the digital age, while upholding the principles of fair hearing, due process and judicial independence.

She noted that cryptocurrency transactions, encrypted communications, electronic records and cross-border financial activities had introduced new complexities into criminal proceedings, requiring judges to understand how digital evidence is obtained, preserved, authenticated and evaluated.

She said the seriousness of an allegation must not determine the outcome of a trial, insisting that the prosecution must establish its case through credible and legally admissible evidence.

She also emphasised the importance of effective case management under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, urging judges to prevent unnecessary delays without compromising the rights of parties.

The Chief Justice said continued judicial education had improved judges’ capacity to handle financial crime cases.

She also highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List on October 24, 2025, as an important milestone requiring sustained institutional commitment.

According to her, the judiciary must continue to strengthen its professional standards and competence in adjudicating corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.

She, however, cautioned that institutional cooperation must respect the constitutional independence of the courts, stressing that monitoring and coordination must never extend to influencing judicial decisions.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Emmanuel Udende identified delays in the trial and determination of economic and financial crime cases as a major challenge undermining Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.

He noted that although investigations and prosecutions were essential, their impact was diminished when cases remained unresolved for years.

Such delays, he said, weakened deterrence, undermined public confidence, consumed judicial resources and complicated the recovery of public funds.

He urged judges to strengthen case management, minimise avoidable adjournments and ensure the timely conclusion of proceedings in accordance with the law.

He nevertheless emphasised that expeditious trials must not come at the expense of due process, noting that accused persons were equally entitled to fair hearings within a reasonable time.

Udende also called for stronger institutional cooperation and sustained capacity building to address the challenges posed by digital evidence and increasingly sophisticated financial crimes.

He urged investigators to present complete and properly organised evidence, prosecutors and defence counsel to discharge their responsibilities diligently, and judges to exercise firm, fair and impartial control over proceedings.

He encouraged the EFCC and NJI to sustain their collaboration and develop practical recommendations for improving the handling of digital evidence, reducing delays and strengthening coordination across the criminal justice system.

Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Obinna Onwusibe called for urgent reforms to address the evidence, speed and legislative gaps undermining the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes in Nigeria.

The lawmaker pledged the National Assembly’s support for strengthening the EFCC through adequate funding for forensic laboratories, digital investigation tools and specialised training.

He also promised legislative reforms to improve the admissibility of digital evidence, facilitate the management of virtual assets and strengthen the legal framework for combating cybercrime and money laundering.

Onwusibe further advocated improved judicial welfare and independence, stressing that an adequately equipped judiciary was essential to effective justice delivery.

He challenged judges to demonstrate firmness in deciding financial crime cases, declaring that the EFCC could arrest suspects and the legislature could enact laws, but only the judiciary could convict offenders.

He urged participants to build a justice system capable of responding more swiftly and intelligently to technology-driven criminal activities.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, emphasised that effective prosecution of financial crimes must begin with thorough investigations and the proper handling of digital evidence.

He said such evidence must be lawfully obtained, carefully preserved, reliably authenticated and clearly linked to the elements of the alleged offence.

He warned that prosecutorial success should not be measured merely by arrests or charges filed, but by the integrity of investigations, fairness of proceedings and sustainability of judicial outcomes.

Describing prosecutors as ministers of justice, Fagbemi stressed that their responsibility was to pursue justice through lawful means rather than secure convictions at all costs.

He called on investigators, prosecutors, defence counsel and judges to discharge their duties professionally, while ensuring that the pursuit of speed did not undermine fair hearing.

Fagbemi also underscored the importance of recovering and managing proceeds of crime, noting that the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, provides mechanisms for tracing, preserving, recovering and managing illicit assets.

He stressed that asset recovery must be supported by credible evidence, proper judicial processes and respect for the rights of affected persons.

According to him, improved forensic capacity, information sharing and international assistance were essential to achieving lasting results.

He urged institutions to replace rivalry with shared responsibility, insisting that Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts must remain uncompromising in confronting financial crimes while equally protecting the rights of innocent persons and upholding the rule of law.

He further called for stronger cooperation among the Ministry of Justice, EFCC, judiciary, financial intelligence institutions and other relevant agencies to combat increasingly borderless financial crimes.

The opening ceremony was well-attended by members of the bar and bench, anti-corruption experts across the country and other stakeholders in the fight against corruption.

The three-day Workshop will end on Thursday, October 15, 2026.