Tinubu Hails EFCC Over 10,872 Convictions, N1.23 Trillion Asset Recovery
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for recording significant achievements in the fight against financial crimes, securing convictions and recovering billions of naira in illicit assets.
The President also called for stronger collaboration among anti-corruption agencies, the judiciary and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
Tinubu made the commendation on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the 8th EFCC/National Judicial Institute (NJI) Workshop for Judges and Justices in Abuja. The event was themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.”
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President praised the EFCC for its efforts in combating cryptocurrency fraud and recovering virtual assets, describing the Commission’s performance as evidence of its determination to keep pace with evolving criminal activities.
According to the figures presented, the EFCC filed 14,476 cases in court and secured 10,872 convictions during the first 34 months of the current administration, representing a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 per cent.
The Commission also recorded 1,370 convictions from 1,889 cases filed in the first half of 2026.
In addition, the EFCC recovered N1.233 trillion, $684,478,457.32, £373,905.78 and €9,343,803.66 in monetary assets.
Tinubu also highlighted the successful prosecution and subsequent deportation of 192 foreign nationals arrested for cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud as evidence of the Commission’s commitment to tackling technology-driven crimes.
He noted that emerging technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence, had made financial crimes increasingly sophisticated, making continuous training essential for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.
The President assured the judiciary of the Federal Government’s continued support for capacity development while emphasising that judicial independence must be respected.
He further urged judges and prosecutors to strengthen their handling of complex financial crime cases, warning that major prosecutions lost on procedural technicalities could weaken public confidence in the justice system.
Tinubu maintained that the fight against corruption should not be treated as the responsibility of the executive arm alone but as a collective duty involving all arms of government.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts to funding social intervention programmes, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP).
Speaking at the event, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the Commission had introduced operational reforms aimed at improving investigations, increasing asset recoveries and securing more convictions.
He explained that the EFCC was strengthening intelligence-led investigations, forensic capabilities and cooperation with local and international partners to address emerging financial crimes.
Olukoyede also expressed concern over procedural delays, frivolous adjournments and frequent changes of legal counsel, which he said could prolong financial crime trials and undermine justice.
He urged judges to ensure rigorous and timely adjudication of corruption cases, stressing that the Commission was not asking the judiciary to compromise the law or manufacture evidence but to deliver justice without unnecessary delays.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also called for improved judicial capacity to handle digital evidence, cryptocurrency transactions, encrypted communications and cross-border financial crimes.
She emphasised that allegations must be established through credible and legally admissible evidence, regardless of the seriousness of the offences involved.
The Chief Justice further urged judges to minimise avoidable delays while protecting the rights of defendants and maintaining judicial independence.
Other speakers, including Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption Chairman Emmanuel Udende, House Committee on Financial Crimes Chairman Ginger Obinna Onwusibe and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, called for stronger institutional cooperation, improved forensic capacity and reforms to enhance the prosecution of financial crimes.
They also stressed the need for proper handling of digital evidence, effective case management and lawful recovery of proceeds of crime.
The three-day workshop, which brought together judicial officers, legal practitioners, anti-corruption experts and other stakeholders, is scheduled to end on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
