EFCC nets N500b, 7,000 convictions in two years under Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Monday rallied the judiciary to remain firm and uncompromising in the fight against graft, as he revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered more than N500 billion in the first two years of his administration.

Declaring open the EFCC-National Judicial Institute (NJI) Workshop for Justices and Judges in Abuja, the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, warned that societies begin to unravel when those entrusted with interpreting the law become compromised.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial independence through enhanced welfare and better working conditions, including recent remuneration reviews.

“We draw our moral distinction as a people from the judiciary, and we owe it the reverence and autonomy to remain the last sanctuary of our collective conscience,” Tinubu said.

He expressed concern over the slow pace of adjudicating high-profile corruption cases compared to the speedy resolution of cybercrime matters.

“There is a certain level of consternation over decisions of courts in serious corruption matters that engender feelings that society is being left with the wrong end of the stick,” he noted.

Tinubu stressed that his government has maintained a non-interference stance, allowing anti-graft agencies and the judiciary to exercise their constitutional mandates without political cover.

“There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors on account of their affiliation to this government or the political party. We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers,” he said.

The President also underscored the need for judges to keep pace with fast-evolving digital crimes.

“Learning and relearning are no longer buzz phrases but an essential undertaking for continued relevance in this digital age,” he said.

He reminded judicial officers that corruption spares no one: “Your vantage position on the Bench does not insulate you from its consequences. There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges. A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right.”

Chief Justice of Nigeria and NJI Board Chair, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urged judicial officers to exercise firm control over proceedings and apply constitutional tools deliberately, stressing that the judiciary’s strength lies in public trust.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, assured that the National Assembly remains committed to empowering law enforcement agencies to ensure that corruption finds no hiding place.

NJI Administrator, B.A. Adejumo, called for continued collaboration between the EFCC, judiciary, and the Institute, noting that no nation can achieve meaningful development without confronting corruption.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the Supreme Court’s recent decision affirming the Commission’s powers has further strengthened Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture.

“The record of 4,111 convictions and humongous asset recoveries could not have been achieved by a lazy or ineffective judiciary,” he said.

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