President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its achievements in the fight against corruption, revealing that the agency secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion within the first two years of his administration.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the opening of the 7th EFCC–National Judicial Institute (NJI) Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering anti-corruption institutions.
“The EFCC has recorded over 7,000 convictions in the first two years of the present administration and recovered assets in excess of ₦500 billion,” Tinubu stated, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale.
“Proceeds of crime recovered by the agency have been ploughed back into the economy to fund critical social investment programmes, including the Students Loan and Consumer Credit schemes.”
The praises to EFCC under the watch of Olukayode is coming in the heels of high profile cases of stealing still being unresolved. For instance former Kogi state governor Yahaha Bello is standing trial for stealing over N82 billion of state money.
Olukayode has previously vowed that if he doesn’t recover the money and jail Yahaha Bello he will resign but today Yahaha Bello is not only walking the streets a free man but has continually been making highly provocative political statements
The President underscored the vital role of the judiciary in sustaining the anti-corruption drive, urging judges to maintain integrity and public trust.
“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right in our respective spheres of influence. A robust judicial system is central to the success of anti-corruption efforts, and I count on our judges,” he said.
He cautioned that the fight against graft would lack credibility if public officials, including those in the judiciary, failed to lead by example.
“Courts and judges are strong pillars of the anti-corruption process. Your vantage position on the bench does not insulate you from the consequences of corruption,” Tinubu warned.
In his remarks at the event, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede expressed frustration over delays and procedural obstacles hampering the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases.
“The milestones we have recorded in the past two years are almost overshadowed by public concern over the progress of high-profile cases in court,” he said.
“There are cases filed 15 or 20 years ago that are still in limbo, caught in procedural loops that frustrate justice.”
Olukoyede highlighted a pattern in which politically exposed persons manipulate the system to avoid accountability.
“After charges are filed, defendants who were previously fit and active suddenly fall ill. Medical reports are tendered, and court proceedings are stalled. In some cases, technical adjournments are secured endlessly.”
He warned that such tactics, combined with inconsistent judicial decisions and frivolous legal applications, threaten to erode public faith in the justice system.
“The longer these cases drag on, the more witnesses drop out, memories fade, and public interest wanes. The only victor is corruption,” Olukoyede said.
The EFCC chairman also criticized some state high court judges for issuing orders that obstruct the Commission’s investigations—sometimes beyond their legal jurisdiction.
“We’re seeing an increase in state high courts issuing orders to block EFCC investigations into money laundering cases. Many of these are granted ex parte and lie outside the courts’ jurisdiction.”
He also pointed to the problem of conflicting judgments by courts of equal authority in similar corruption cases, which he said complicates the Commission’s work and creates legal uncertainty.
“Such decisions, often exploited by high-powered legal teams, give the impression that the courts and prosecution are not committed to justice.”
Olukoyede called on the judiciary to be more vigilant and responsive in high-stakes corruption trials, urging judges to be wary of legal manoeuvres designed to derail justice.
“The Nigerian judiciary is blessed with competent and courageous judges. But when a few undermine the process, it puts the entire system at risk.”
President Tinubu and the EFCC boss both emphasized that the success of anti-corruption efforts hinges on collaboration between the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
“We cannot claim to pursue transparency if we do not lead by example,” Tinubu said. “Corruption undermines development and fuels insecurity. It is in all our interests to fight it — and to win.”
The workshop, attended by senior justices and judges, forms part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen judicial capacity and cooperation in Nigeria’s anti-corruption battle.
About the Author
