.Tasks judiciary to probe prosecution methods, seal procedural gaps exploited by criminals
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has declared that the cankerworm known as corruption on Nigeria can’t be uprooted with out an unbiased and reform minded bench.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja through the annual EFCC/NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Judges and Justices, Tinubu maintained that there will likely be no significant progress in uprooting graft “without an independent, progressive, and reform-minded Bench.”
The President, represented on the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima,
whereas commending the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for convening the eighth version of the Judges and Justices Workshop stated the workshop with the theme, “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age,” was well timed and obligatory in “fostering the institutional cohesion required to confront corruption’s ever-changing architecture in Nigeria.
“My Lords, we confront a rapidly shifting criminal landscape. Technology has amplified the audacity and reach of illicit actors, ushering in sophisticated crimes driven by destructive ingenuity. The rise of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence has introduced unprecedented layers of complexity to traditional illicit activities.
“Because these modern crimes constantly mutate, law enforcement and judicial authorities must continuously build capacity to adapt and respond effectively,” he said.
Tinubu additionally tasked the judiciary to dismantle the procedural loopholes and flawed prosecution techniques that enable for criminals to flee justice.
He demanded an aggressive overhaul of the justice system to make sure that no well-connected particular person can manipulate technicalities to evade the total, crushing weight of the legislation.
The President urged the judiciary to interrogate present statutory frameworks towards the backdrop of rising monetary crimes.
“Probe prosecution strategies, dismantle outdated precedents, and seal procedural gaps that politically exposed persons and organised crime actors exploit to delay or frustrate trial,” he said.
Tinubu warned that whereas monetary and financial crimes pose an existential menace to Nigeria, corruption has no respect for standing and spares no arm of presidency.
According to him, framing the anti-corruption marketing campaign as purely an government agenda is a basic error as a result of compromised public companies equally have an effect on the chief, legislature, judiciary, and peculiar residents.
Noting that corruption is a battle for the nation’s collective survival, the President stated, “We must no longer permit legal pyrotechnics and procedural pedantry to shelter criminality. The Bench is not merely a mechanical arbiter of rules, but an active guardian of moral order and social equity.
“Law is, by design, an instrument of social engineering; it must invariably prioritise the public good over narrow, selfish interests shielded by technical manoeuvres. Our courts must embody the spirit, and not just the arid letter, of the law.”
Tinubu urged the judiciary to adapt to the shifting dynamics of economic crime, stressing that realigning the nation’s investigative and prosecutorial methods is essential to stopping institutional obsolescence.
According to him: “We are already on the right trajectory. The EFCC’s recent momentum in tackling cryptocurrency fraud and its commendable strides in recovering virtual assets are highly reassuring. The agency has recovered billions of naira in cryptocurrency investment-related fraud cases.
“In 2025, the agency secured the forfeiture of $22,417.91 (Twenty-Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventeen Dollars, Ninety-One Cents) worth of Bitcoin; 1,001,301.87 USDT (One Million, One Thousand, Three Hundred and One USDT and Eighty-Seven Cents) in digital assets; and US$5.6 million linked to the CBEX scheme, while 192 foreigners arrested for cyber-terrorism and cryptocurrency fraud were successfully prosecuted and deported afterwards.”
The President noticed that whereas EFCC’s actions reveals company that’s proactive, forward-looking and resolved to not be outpaced by technological innovation, the judiciary “must complement law enforcement by rapidly upscaling its capacity.”
He acknowledged efforts by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in reforming the judiciary, whilst he pledged the total help of the chief arm of presidency to make sure that the Nigerian judiciary is satisfactorily outfitted to fulfill the calls for of justice supply in the digital age.”
Earlier, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, stated the eighth version of the occasion displays the dedication of the NJI and EFCC to maintain efforts aimed toward addressing challenges confronting stakeholders in Nigeria’s justice system.
She stated the development in expertise has impacted how digital proof is obtained and recorded, noting that the efficient administration of legal justice in the digital period require agency and disciplined case administration which, based on her, capability constructing programmes such because the EFCC and NJI collaboration, goals to strengthen.
The CJN famous that sustained judicial training and capability growth in the justice sector was yielding optimistic outcomes with the improved conduct of judicial officers particularly judges in case administration and the dispensation of justice in current years.
Also talking, Senate Committee Chairman on AntiCorruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, stated the timing of the workshop was apt given the rising sophistication of economic crimes and corruption significantly circumstances involving politically uncovered individuals, which immediately affect well timed case administration and the dispensation of justice.
He assured the stakeholders that the National Assembly remained dedicated to supporting the enhancement of the warfare towards corruption and monetary crimes in Nigeria by means of proactive laws.
On his half, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged synergy amongst stakeholders in addressing rising challenges in Nigeria’s battle towards corruption, stating that one arm of presidency alone couldn’t successfully handle the issue.
He urged judicial officers particularly judges and legal professionals to leverage alternatives offered through the workshop to reinforce their capacities to make investigation extra thorough and prosecution extra diligent.
In his welcome handle, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, stated the collaboration between the EFCC and the NJI in enhancing the capability of judicial officers has turn into an integral a part of authorities’s efforts to frontally sort out the dynamics and scale of economic crimes in the digital age.
He stated the presence of the Vice President on the occasion was a sensible demonstration of the dedication of the Tinubu administration to spice up Nigeria’s warfare towards corruption.
Also, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, stated the occasion was a nationwide crucial that has turn into an essential element of the annual programme of each the EFCC and the NJI.
He stated the fee below his management was reform minded and has recorded unprecedented convictions in addition to monetary recoveries over the previous three years, assuring that clear and considered dealing with of recovered cash and property.
The EFCC chairman additionally regretted the affect of superior expertise on monetary crimes in addition to different types of corruption, noting that digital innovation was quick outpacing authorized devices and provisions for prosecution.
