President Bola Tinubu highlighted the challenges hindering the fight against corruption in Nigeria, including frivolous appeals and intimidation of judges by lawyers. These obstacles slow down the adjudication process of corruption cases. Speaking at a workshop for justices and judges, he emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to ensure a more effective anti-corruption campaign. Tinubu also acknowledged the improvements in prosecuting corruption cases due to justice sector reforms but stressed the need to tackle the remaining impediments.
He emphasized the judiciary’s crucial role in combating corruption, urging for collective efforts to confront this common enemy. Tinubu mentioned the increasing complexity of financial crimes, such as cryptocurrency fraud, and called for judges to be equipped to handle these new forms of crime. The government’s commitment to supporting judicial officers and creating a conducive environment for their work was also highlighted.
Additionally, Tinubu mentioned strategic investments of recovered corruption proceeds in social programs to alleviate pressure on vulnerable individuals. He commended the EFCC for its dedication in fighting economic and financial crimes and assured continued government support for the agency. The workshop aimed to address challenges in the fight against corruption and enhance the capacity of legal professionals to tackle emerging financial crimes.
Various officials, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Senate President, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, expressed their commitment to collaborating in the anti-corruption efforts. The workshop was seen as a significant step in the administration’s approach to combating economic and financial crimes, with an emphasis on competence and a multifaceted approach to fighting corruption. The event brought together key stakeholders from the judiciary and anti-graft agencies to strengthen their collaboration in achieving common objectives.