President Bola Tinubu has highlighted several critical challenges impeding Nigeria’s fight against corruption, including frivolous legal appeals, intimidation of judges by lawyers, and judgments based on technicalities rather than substantive issues. Tinubu expressed these concerns while declaring open the 6th Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Judicial Institute (NJI) Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges in Abuja.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President acknowledged that while there has been progress in the prosecution of corruption cases due to recent judicial reforms, several issues continue to delay the swift adjudication of such cases. Tinubu noted that these challenges hinder efforts to curb corruption effectively and called for reforms to address them.
He emphasized the importance of the judiciary in combating corruption, praising judicial officers’ courage and patriotism as key factors in the fight. He also acknowledged that corruption remains a pervasive issue in Nigeria, denying the country the benefits of its natural resources. The President urged the judiciary to be well-prepared to handle emerging forms of financial crimes, ensuring that courts are equipped with the necessary knowledge and expertise.
In his address, Tinubu underscored his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of judicial officers, including increasing their remuneration and providing official accommodation. He also praised the EFCC’s efforts in recovering stolen assets and pledged continued government support for the agency’s work.
The President expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the NJI and EFCC for organizing the annual capacity-building workshop, emphasizing the importance of addressing the ongoing challenges in the fight against corruption. He expressed hope that the seminar would provide solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s judicial and anti-corruption efforts.