• A corruption-free Nigeria possible, says President
• Akpabio, CJN pledge support for Judiciary to fight graft
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration’s anti-corruption drive has recorded a huge success in the last two years.
He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than N500 billion in the first two years of his administration.
President said the recovered funds were being channelled into social investment programmes, such as the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme.
He urged the Judiciary to uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in the fight against corruption.
The President warned that the collapse of justice institutions marks the beginning of a nation’s moral decay.
President Tinubu spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of a joint workshop of the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial independence and improving the welfare of judicial officers.
“The moral foundation of the Nigerian nation rests squarely on the integrity of its judicial system. We draw our moral distinction as a people from the judiciary, and we owe it the reverence and autonomy to remain the last sanctuary of our collective conscience”, the President declared.
In a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, President Tinubu described his administration’s recent review of judicial remuneration as part of a broader reform to enhance judicial independence and efficiency.
The President underscored that while Nigerians express frustration over the slow pace of adjudication in high-profile corruption cases, his government has refrained from interfering in the process.
READ ALSO: Alleged forgery: Anyanwu signed letter before Govs, Saraki, Aliyu, others – PDP
“There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors on account of their affiliation to this government or the political party. We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers,” he said.
Addressing the evolving landscape of financial crimes, President Tinubu stressed the need for continuous judicial training in emerging technologies, particularly in handling cybercrime and cryptocurrency-related cases.
“Learning and relearning is no longer a buzz phrase but an essential undertaking for continued relevance in this digital age. How does one do justice in a cryptocurrency fraud case except one is grounded in such matters?” he noted.
The President reminded judicial officers that corruption spares no one, regardless of social standing.
He said: “Your vantage position on the Bench does not insulate you from the consequences of corruption. There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges.”
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairperson of the NJI Board of Governors, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, noted that the decisions of judicial officers have far-reaching effects on Nigeria’s growth and stability.
The CJN urged judges to remain firm, fair, and deliberate in their adjudications, ensuring that justice is never delayed or denied.
“The strength of the judiciary lies in the trust reposed in judges by the Nigerian people. We must preserve that trust by ensuring justice is neither partial nor delayed,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, affirmed the legislature’s commitment to supporting anti-corruption agencies through enabling laws and funding.
“Corruption is an enemy of the state, and combating it requires action from all fronts—the legislature, the judiciary, and the citizenry,” Akpabio said.
He assured all of continued legislative backing for security and law enforcement reforms.
The NJI Administrator, Justice B. A. Adejumo, lauded the collaborative efforts of the EFCC and the judiciary, describing the annual workshop as “a vital platform for strengthening institutional synergy in the fight against corruption”.
He reiterated that “no nation can develop without tackling corruption head-on”.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede applauded the judiciary’s partnership in advancing the anti-graft crusade.
The EFCC chairman noted that the Supreme Court’s recent decision reaffirming the commission’s constitutional mandate had further strengthened institutional confidence.
“The record of 4,111 convictions and humongous asset recoveries could not have been achieved by a lazy or ineffective judiciary,” he said.
Olukoyede reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to sustain its drive against financial crimes.