President Bola Tinubu has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured more than 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth over N500 billion within the first two years of his administration.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, jointly organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the president, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the figures highlight his administration’s firm resolve to strengthen the anti-corruption fight and uphold judicial independence.
“The EFCC has recorded over seven thousand convictions in the first two years of my administration and recovered assets in excess of five hundred billion naira,” Tinubu said, noting that the recovered proceeds are being channelled into social investment programmes such as the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.
The president maintained that his government has not interfered in the operations of anti-graft agencies or the judiciary, stressing that both institutions have been allowed to operate freely. “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,” he added.
Addressing the concerns of slow trials in high-profile corruption cases, Tinubu acknowledged public frustration over delayed judgments. “While cybercrime cases are quickly concluded, corruption trials drag for years, creating anger among citizens,” he said. He urged judicial officers to uphold integrity and public confidence, describing the judiciary as “the last sanctuary of our collective conscience.”
Tinubu also emphasised the need for continuous learning among judges, given the sophistication of modern financial crimes. “From simple email fraud to blockchain analysis, financial crimes have become complex. How does one do justice in a cryptocurrency case without understanding the technology?” he asked.
He reminded the judiciary that no one is immune to the consequences of corruption, urging collective action toward a Nigeria free of graft. “A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right in our spheres of influence,” he said.
