Tinubu urges judges

President Tinubu has urged Nigerian judges to close procedural loopholes that politically exposed persons and organised crime suspects exploit to delay or frustrate criminal trials.

“Probe prosecution strategies, dismantle outdated precedents, and seal procedural gaps that politically exposed persons and organised crime actors exploit to delay or frustrate trial”

Corruption trials delayed

The president said the fight against corruption would make little progress without an independent judiciary willing to adapt to emerging forms of financial crime.

Tinubu speaks at workshop

Mr Tinubu spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the eighth annual capacity-building workshop for judges and justices organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

Digital crimes challenge

Mr Tinubu said advances in blockchain technology and artificial intelligence had made financial crimes more sophisticated, requiring investigators, prosecutors and judges to strengthen their capacity to respond.

EFCC digital recoveries

According to the president, the commission secured the forfeiture of $22,417.91 worth of Bitcoin, 1,001,301.87 USDT in digital assets and $5.6 million linked to the CBEX scheme in 2025.

Foreign nationals prosecuted

He also stated that 192 foreign nationals arrested for cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud had been prosecuted and deported.

Digital evidence challenges

Mr Tinubu urged the judiciary to improve its capacity to handle cases involving digital evidence and virtual assets, warning that the justice system risked falling behind technological developments.

CJN reforms

He commended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for her efforts to reform the judiciary and pledged the federal government’s support for improving justice delivery in the digital age.

CJN case management

In her remarks at the event, Ms Kekere-Ekun stated that technological developments had changed how digital evidence was obtained and recorded, making effective case management increasingly important.

Senate committee

The Senate Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Emmanuel Udende, noted that the workshop was timely given the growing sophistication of financial crimes, particularly cases involving politically exposed persons.

AGF calls for cooperation

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, called for greater cooperation among government institutions and other stakeholders.

NJI partnership

The Administrator of the NJI, Babatunde Adejumo, said the institute’s partnership with the EFCC had become an important part of efforts to strengthen the judiciary’s response to financial crimes.

EFCC progress

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede stated that the workshop was an important part of both institutions’ annual programmes.

Digital gap warning

He said the commission had recorded significant convictions and financial recoveries over the past three years and stressed the need for recovered funds and assets to be managed transparently.