
President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern that the fight against corruption in Nigeria is being undermined by frivolous appeals, the intimidation of judges by lawyers, and judgments based on technicalities. He warned that these issues are slowing down the prosecution of corruption cases, despite notable improvements following recent reforms in the justice sector.
Speaking during the 6th Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)/National Judicial Institute (NJI) Capacity Building Workshop in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized that corruption continues to deprive the nation of its resources and called for collective efforts to combat it. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu urged judicial officers to stand firm against these challenges and emphasized the importance of equipping courts to handle emerging financial crimes, such as cryptocurrency fraud.
He also highlighted his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of judges and utilizing recovered corruption proceeds to fund social initiatives, such as the Students Loan Fund and Consumer Credit Scheme, to reduce the pressure on vulnerable Nigerians.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and other key officials at the event praised the collaboration between the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies, stressing the need for continuous capacity-building efforts to tackle economic and financial crimes effectively.