The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called for faster trials of corruption cases, warning that prolonged court proceedings could weaken investigations and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
Olukoyede made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the eighth annual capacity-building workshop for judges and justices organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
He described the fight against corruption as a national priority, stressing that effective prosecution requires cooperation between investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary.
The EFCC chairman identified repeated adjournments and frequent changes of legal representatives as some of the challenges that prolong corruption trials. He warned that excessive delays could make witnesses difficult to trace, weaken evidence and prevent cases from reaching timely conclusions.
Olukoyede urged judicial officers to ensure that corruption cases are handled efficiently without compromising the principles of fair hearing and the rule of law.
He also highlighted the growing complexity of financial crimes, particularly those involving cryptocurrency, digital transactions and other emerging technologies. According to him, investigators and prosecutors must strengthen their technical expertise to build cases capable of withstanding legal scrutiny.
The EFCC boss said the commission had recorded significant results under his leadership, including convictions and the recovery of financial assets. He maintained that recovered funds and properties must be managed transparently and in accordance with the law.
President Bola Tinubu, represented at the event by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, also urged the judiciary to address procedural loopholes that individuals and organised criminal networks allegedly exploit to delay or frustrate corruption trials.
