Tinubu Hails EFCC for Recovering ₦500bn, Securing 7,000 Convictions
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its achievements in the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, revealing that the agency secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion within the first two years of his administration.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the opening of the 7th EFCC–National Judicial Institute Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges on Monday in Abuja, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening anti-graft institutions and ensuring transparency in governance.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Tinubu said the recovered proceeds had been reinvested into key social programmes, including the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Initiative.
“The EFCC, for example, has recorded over 7,000 convictions in the first two years of this administration and recovered assets in excess of ₦500 billion,” Tinubu said. “These proceeds have been ploughed back into the economy to fund critical social investment programmes.”
He emphasised the need for collaboration among the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of government, stressing that the success of the anti-corruption war depends largely on the integrity and efficiency of the justice system.
“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right in our respective spheres of influence,” he said. “A robust judicial system is central to the success of anti-corruption efforts, and I count on our judges to uphold justice and public trust.”
Tinubu warned that the credibility of the anti-corruption campaign would be undermined if public officials failed to lead by example.
“We cannot claim to have excelled in building a transparent system if we do not live by such examples,” he added. “Courts and judges are strong pillars of the anti-corruption process, and no one is insulated from the consequences of corruption.”
He further noted that corruption continues to hinder Nigeria’s development and fuel insecurity, urging all citizens to support the ongoing reforms.
“There are no special roads or hospitals for judges or any group. We all face the consequences of years of mismanagement,” he said. “It is in everyone’s interest to fight and win this war together.”
Earlier in his remarks, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, expressed concern over delays and procedural bottlenecks in high-profile corruption cases, noting that such setbacks have dampened public confidence in the judicial process.
He lamented that some cases filed over 15 or 20 years ago remain unresolved, often due to tactics employed by politically exposed persons to frustrate proceedings.
“We seem to have grown accustomed to a predictable pattern in high-profile prosecutions,” Olukoyede said. “After investigations are concluded, ensuring that politically exposed persons appear in court becomes a challenge, and when they do, other delaying tactics emerge.”
Olukoyede called for greater judicial efficiency and collaboration to sustain public trust and ensure that justice is both swift and fair.
