*Says: “When Corruption Trials Drift, Public Loses Confidence In The Judiciary”
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, yesterday pleaded for the speedy trial of corruption cases.
He said when corruption trials drift indefinitely, evidence deteriorates.
He said prolonged cases erode public confidence in the judiciary.
Olukoyede expressed concern at the opening ceremony of the 8th EFCC/National Judicial Institute (NJI) Workshop for Judges and Justices in Abuja.
The workshop’s theme was “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.”
The EFCC boss identified institutional bottlenecks and procedural delays as barriers to effective prosecution that paralyse complex financial crime proceedings. He said frivolous adjournments and constant changes of counsel stall the wheels of justice.
Olukoyede said, “When financial crime cases are allowed to drift indefinitely, the integrity of the process erodes. Evidence deteriorates and loses its cogency. Witnesses disappear, relocate, or suffer memory lapses. Public confidence in the judicial system completely evaporates. Justice delayed indefinitely defeats accountability.
“Adjudicating corruption cases requires an elevated standard of integrity, judicial courage, and an unswerving commitment to the rule of law.
“We continue to hold in the highest esteem those jurists who have consistently held the candle of justice aloft in these challenging times.”
The EFCC chairman said he was not asking judges to bend the rules but to dispense justice speedily.
He added: “We do not seek simply to investigate more people; we seek to investigate more intelligently. We do not seek merely to prosecute more cases; we seek to prosecute cases that are properly investigated and capable of meeting the required standard of proof. Where assets are recovered, we seek to ensure that the recovery is lawful, transparent and sustainable.
“We do not urge your Lordships to reinvent the wheel, nor do we suggest the manufacturing of evidence to secure convictions. We ask only for rigorous, expeditious adjudication.
“Before delivering judgment in any corruption matter, I urge you to resolve a few fundamental questions within your own conscience: Will this verdict encourage or deter financial crimes? How will judicial history judge this decision decades from now? What colour will this judgment add to the enduring tapestry of your legacy?”
He said the goal of anti-corruption efforts was a more cohesive justice system where investigators know exactly what the courts require; prosecutors proactively anticipate evidentiary challenges; forensic specialists translate complex digital data into clear testimonies; and the judiciary understands the sophisticated methods used to perpetrate and conceal financial crime.
On her part, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urged the judiciary to strengthen its capacity to handle emerging forms of financial crimes in the digital age.
She asked judges to uphold the principles of fair hearing, due process and judicial independence.
She said cryptocurrency transactions, encrypted communications, electronic records and cross-border financial activities have introduced new complexities into criminal proceedings, requiring judges to understand how digital evidence is obtained, preserved, authenticated and evaluated.
She said the seriousness of an allegation must not determine a trial’s outcome.
She insisted that the prosecution must establish its case through credible and legally admissible evidence. She also emphasised the importance of effective case management under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, urging judges to prevent unnecessary delays without compromising the rights of parties.
The Chief Justice said continued judicial education had improved judges’ capacity to handle financial crime cases. She also highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List on October 24, 2025, as an important milestone requiring sustained institutional commitment.
According to her, the judiciary must continue strengthening its professional standards and competence in adjudicating corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes. She, however, cautioned that institutional cooperation must respect the constitutional independence of the courts, stressing that monitoring and coordination must never extend to influencing judicial decisions.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said effective prosecution of financial crimes must begin with thorough investigations and the proper handling of digital evidence.
He said such evidence must be lawfully obtained, carefully preserved, reliably authenticated and clearly linked to the elements of the alleged offence.
He warned that prosecutorial success should not be measured merely by arrests or charges filed, but by the integrity of investigations, fairness of proceedings and sustainability of judicial outcomes.
Describing prosecutors as ministers of justice, Fagbemi stressed that they should pursue justice through lawful means rather than secure convictions at all costs.
He called on investigators, prosecutors, defence counsel and judges to discharge their duties professionally, while ensuring that the pursuit of speed did not undermine fair hearing.
Fagbemi also underscored the importance of recovering and managing proceeds of crime.
He said the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, provides mechanisms for tracing, preserving, recovering and managing illicit assets. He stressed that asset recovery must be supported by credible evidence, proper judicial processes and respect for the rights of affected persons.
He said improved forensic capacity, information sharing and international assistance were essential to achieving lasting results.
He urged institutions to replace rivalry with shared responsibility, insisting that Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts must remain uncompromising in confronting financial crimes while equally protecting the rights of innocent persons and upholding the rule of law.
He called for stronger cooperation among the Ministry of Justice, EFCC, judiciary, financial intelligence institutions and other relevant agencies to combat increasingly borderless financial crimes.
Members of the Bar and Bench, anti-corruption experts from across the country and other stakeholders in the fight against corruption attended the opening ceremony. The three-day workshop will end on Thursday.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
