President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the judiciary to review prosecution strategies and close legal loopholes being exploited by criminals to delay or escape justice.
Tinubu made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the 8th EFCC/NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Judges and Justices on the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes in the digital age.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said the justice system must be strengthened to ensure that no individual, regardless of status or connection, uses technicalities to avoid accountability.
He urged judges and judicial authorities to examine existing laws and procedures in response to the changing nature of financial crimes.
“Probe prosecution strategies, dismantle outdated precedents, and seal procedural gaps that politically exposed persons and organised crime actors exploit to delay or frustrate trial,” Tinubu said.
The President warned that corruption remains a serious threat to Nigeria’s development, stressing that it affects all sectors of society and does not spare any arm of government.
He said the fight against corruption should not be seen as the responsibility of only the executive arm, adding that compromised public institutions affect citizens, lawmakers, judges, and government officials alike.
Tinubu said the judiciary must go beyond the technical interpretation of laws and ensure that justice serves the wider interest of society.
He noted that emerging technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence, have created new challenges in tackling financial crimes, requiring law enforcement agencies and courts to constantly improve their capacity.
The President commended the EFCC for its efforts in tackling cryptocurrency-related fraud and recovering digital assets linked to financial crimes.
He said the agency’s recent activities showed the need for the judiciary to also strengthen its ability to handle technology-driven crimes and prevent the justice system from falling behind.
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said digital advancement has changed the way evidence is obtained and managed, making continuous judicial training necessary.
She said capacity-building programmes such as the EFCC/NJI workshop were helping judicial officers improve case management and the delivery of justice.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, also called for stronger cooperation among government institutions, saying no single arm of government could defeat corruption alone.
Meanwhile, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said financial crimes were becoming more sophisticated due to technological advancement, warning that digital innovation was moving faster than existing legal frameworks.
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