The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered assets valued at over N500 billion and secured more than 700 convictions within the last two years, according to President Bola Tinubu.
The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made this known yesterday while declaring open the seventh edition of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
He stated that the notable achievements of the EFCC were made possible by his administration’s decision to refrain from interfering in the agency’s activities, as well as its dedication to promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
Tinubu said: “As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and giving them the needed independence to execute their statutory mandates.
“This enabling environment is evident in the impact that has been made in the last two years. The EFCC for example, has recorded over 7,000 convictions in the past two years of the present administration and recovered assets in excess of N500 billion.”
He further explained that the recovered funds and assets were being redirected towards national development and social welfare initiatives in various sectors of the economy.
The President said: “Recovered proceeds of crime by the agency are being brought back into the economy to fund critical social investment programmes, including the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.”
According to him, the administration is also providing support to the judiciary to improve the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers, as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to justice and accountability, the President stressed that no political figure or public servant was above the law under his administration.
He said: “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-corruption agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers to dispense justice and restore sanity.”
Tinubu urged members of the judiciary to perform their duties with integrity and patriotism, cautioning that corruption affects every part of society without discrimination.
He said: “Courts and judges are strong pillars of the anti-corruption process, except that the society has full confidence that those who pillage our resources will be subjected to the rule of law and brought to justice through a pure and transparent process of adjudication, our collective commitment to fighting corruption will continue to face scepticism.
“Corruption is no respecter of persons. Your bonded position on the bench does not insulate you from its consequences. There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges. We all face the same risks that stem from decades of wilful theft and wastage of the nation’s resources.”
President Tinubu called for collaboration among the executive, legislature, and judiciary to reinforce the anti-corruption crusade, maintaining that Nigeria’s advancement relied on a fair and transparent system.
“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right in our respective spheres of influence, and ensure that those who deviate from the norm are not allowed to go scot-free.
“A robust judicial system is central to the success of anti-corruption efforts, and I count on our judges to help us achieve this noble aspiration,” he declared.
