• Student loan, Consumer credit tools to discourage graft
Collective efforts by Nigerians is the best approach to fighting corruption, according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
To him, relying on anti-graft agencies only in the corruption battle will not bring desired result.
The President spoke during the 6th Economic and Financial Crimes Commission/National Judicial Institute Capacity Building Workshop in Abuja. He was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The President added that two of his major programmes – the Student Loan and Consumer Credit – are designed to assist Nigerians in achieving desires without difficulties.
The President acknowledged that prosecution of corruption cases has improved remarkably, following the justice sector reforms in the last few years.
He described the capacity-building workshop as a platform to collectively raise a strong voice against Nigeria’s common enemy called corruption.
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Shettima, while delivering the President’s speech at the event, stated: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the judiciary is central to the success of the anti-corruption efforts. The commitment, courage and patriotism of judicial officers are ingredients that make the difference in the fight against corruption.
“Though I am aware that prosecution of corruption matters has improved in the light of the justice sector reforms in the last few years, we are not oblivious of some challenges that continue to impede the speedy adjudication of corruption cases.
“They include frivolous applications and appeals meant to delay the trial, intimidation of judges by counsel, and judgment based, not on the facts of cases, but on technicalities”.
President Tinubu pointed out that “no Nigerian is immune to corruption, a cancer which continues to deny the nation the full benefits of her God-given resources.”
He maintained that only the enlightened collective interest of all Nigerians “to close ranks and aggressively tackle this common enemy” can make the difference, instead of looking up “to only the anti-corruption agencies for solutions to this malaise.”
Noting that advances in technology have increased the complexity of financial crimes beyond the scope of current jurisprudence, Tinubu cited the emergence of virtual assets, which he said, “have occasioned an upsurge in cryptocurrency fraud.”
He urged the judiciary to ensure that the courts are equipped with the required knowledge to handle cases involving these new forms of crime.
“As an administration, we remain committed to creating the right environment for judicial officers to discharge their responsibilities. One of the major actions of the government within the first year of my administration was improving the welfare of judges across the board with an increase in their remuneration.
“Official accommodation is also being provided for various categories of judicial officers in highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
On the part of the executive arm of government, the President said his administration had, through strategic investment of recovered proceeds of corruption in critical social programmes, reduced the pressure on vulnerable Nigerians to resort to corrupt practices.
He identified the Students Loan Fund and the Consumer Credit Scheme as part of these social interventions.
President Tinubu stressed: “The two notable ones are the Students Loan Fund being managed by NELFUND and the Consumer Credit Scheme under the supervision of the Nigerian Credit Corporation, CREDICORP.
“With easy access to loans, we are confident that most of our indigent students will have no need to embrace cybercrime, while the credit scheme offers workers easy access to money to fund their needs despite the harsh economic realities”.
The President commended the EFCC “for its commitment in fighting all economic and financial crimes, especially in tracing and recovering stolen assets.”
He assured that the Federal Government “will continue to support the work of the Commission to ensure that it continues to deliver its statutory mandate without let or hindrance”.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun commended the current leadership of anti-graft agencies in the country for their commitment and collaboration with the judiciary in handling economic and financial crimes, and related cases, adding that law enforcement agencies must begin to see judicial officials as partners in the anti-graft campaign.
She pledged the support and commitment of the judiciary in the campaign through capacity-building initiatives for justices, judges and prosecuting officers, stressing that economic and financial crimes pose significant threats to national and global economies.
The Chief Justice said these crimes and must be tackled by all stakeholders.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, lauded the collaboration between anti-graft agencies and the judiciary.
“It is incumbent on us all as stakeholders to adopt and implement pragmatic solutions that will help address challenges confronting our country, including financial crimes,” he said.
Akpabio also advocated a periodic review of laws relating to economic crimes and the creation of a central database for use by law enforcement agencies, maintaining that the complexity of financial crimes requires constant tweaking of the laws.
House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who represented Speaker Abbas Tajudden, described the workshop as a significant step in the Tinubu administration’s efforts aimed at combating economic and financial crimes.
He emphasized that competence must be at the forefront of the reinvigorated war against corruption.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), proposed the adoption of a multifaceted approach in the fight against graft in Nigeria.
He welcomed the continued collaboration between the EFCC and the judiciary.
In a goodwill message, the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said though the menace of corruption is not peculiar in Nigeria, the dimension of the crime across the country requires value reorientation among citizens and in key agencies of government.
Also, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the workshop is key to addressing thorny issues in the agency’s efforts to rid the country of financial crimes.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by stakeholders, saying they have affected investigations into a number of high-profile cases in the country.
He thanked the leadership of the judiciary for its support, noting that regular interactions among stakeholders would go a long way in the realization of the renewed vision and objectives of all anti-graft agencies under the current administration.
Also present at the event were President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem; Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Salisu Abdullahi; the guest speaker and legal luminary, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), among others.