Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.Months
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for securing 10,872 convictions and recovering ₦1.233 trillion in monetary assets within the first 34 months of his administration.
Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, gave the commendation on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the opening of the eighth EFCC/National Judicial Institute Workshop for Judges and Justices in Abuja.
The three-day workshop, themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age,” brought together judicial officers and other stakeholders to discuss the growing challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.
According to figures presented at the event, the EFCC filed 14,476 cases in court and secured 10,872 convictions during the period under review, representing a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 per cent.
The commission also recorded 1,370 convictions from 1,889 court filings in the first half of 2026.
In addition to the naira recoveries, the EFCC recovered $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million in monetary assets, according to the figures disclosed at the workshop.
Tinubu praised the commission’s efforts to combat cryptocurrency-related fraud and recover virtual assets, saying the agency had demonstrated its determination to adapt to increasingly sophisticated methods of financial crime.
He also cited the prosecution and subsequent deportation of 192 foreign nationals arrested over cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud as part of the government’s efforts to tackle technology-driven criminal activities.
The President called for stronger cooperation among anti-corruption agencies, prosecutors and the judiciary, arguing that the fight against financial crimes required coordinated action across government institutions.
He further urged investigators and prosecutors to address procedural weaknesses that could undermine cases, while emphasising the need to strengthen judicial capacity to deal with crimes involving blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and other digital tools.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, in his remarks, said reforms within the commission had strengthened its investigative and prosecutorial processes. He identified prolonged trials, unnecessary adjournments and frequent changes of legal representation as factors that could delay justice and weaken evidence.
Olukoyede called on judges to ensure that financial crime cases were handled rigorously and without avoidable delays, while respecting due process and the rights of defendants.
Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun also stressed the importance of equipping judicial officers to assess digital evidence, including cryptocurrency transactions, encrypted communications and electronic records.
She cautioned that convictions must be based on credible and legally admissible evidence, warning that efforts to improve cooperation among institutions must not compromise judicial independence or fair hearing.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi called for closer collaboration among investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers, saying effective prosecution depended on properly collected, preserved and authenticated evidence.
Tinubu also acknowledged the contribution of asset recoveries to government social intervention programmes, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation.
The workshop is scheduled to end on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
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