President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede for what he described as “notable achievements” in asset recovery and conviction records since the beginning of his administration.
The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave the commendation during the official opening of the 7th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held on Monday at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja. The event had the theme: “Enhancing Justice in the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes.”
Tinubu said his administration has made accountability and transparency a top priority by strengthening anti-corruption agencies and granting them the independence needed to perform effectively. “As an administration, we have prioritized public accountability by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and accorded them the needed independence to execute their statutory mandates,” he stated.
He revealed that the EFCC, under Olukoyede’s leadership, has achieved over 7,000 convictions in the past two years and recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion. “Recovered proceeds of crime 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 President added.
Tinubu called on members of the judiciary to continue to play their crucial role in ensuring that corruption is decisively tackled. He emphasized that “a robust judicial system is central to the success of anti-corruption efforts,” urging judges and justices to remain impartial and uphold integrity in the discharge of their duties.
“We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers to dispense justice and restore sanity. The evidence is before your eyes,” he said. “Courts and judges are strong pillars of the anti-corruption process. Except the society has full confidence that those who pillage our resources will be subjected to the rule of law, the sneers over our collective commitment to fighting corruption will only get louder.”
The President further noted that corruption undermines every sector of society, warning that no one, including judges, is insulated from its consequences. “There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges. We all shop in the same markets and face the same risks of insecurity, which is a culmination of decades of willful theft and wastage of the nation’s resources,” Tinubu said.
In his remarks, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede expressed gratitude for the government’s support and reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to enforcing accountability and the rule of law. He emphasized the critical role of the judiciary in ensuring that corruption cases are fairly and swiftly adjudicated.
Olukoyede also lamented the lengthy judicial procedures that often delay justice in high-profile corruption cases, noting that such delays hinder the EFCC’s effectiveness.
