Tinubu Urges Judiciary to Close Legal Loopholes Exploited in Financial Crime Cases
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the judiciary to review outdated legal procedures and close loopholes exploited by politically exposed persons and organised crime networks to delay or frustrate the prosecution of financial crimes.
The President made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 8th annual Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Judicial Institute (NJI) Capacity Building Workshop for Judges and Justices. He was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu urged judicial officers to examine existing laws and prosecution strategies in response to the changing nature of financial crimes, particularly those involving emerging digital technologies.
“Probe prosecution strategies, dismantle outdated precedents, and seal procedural gaps that politically exposed persons and organised crime actors exploit to delay or frustrate trial,” he said.
He stressed that corruption was a national challenge affecting all arms of government and society, warning against treating the fight against graft as the responsibility of the executive alone.
According to him, meaningful progress against corruption requires an independent, progressive and reform-minded judiciary capable of ensuring that legal procedures do not become instruments for shielding criminality.
The President described the workshop, themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age,” as timely, given the growing use of blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and other digital tools in financial crimes.
He said law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities must continually strengthen their capacity to respond to increasingly sophisticated criminal activities.
Tinubu also commended the EFCC for its efforts in tackling cryptocurrency-related fraud and recovering virtual assets. He cited the agency’s reported forfeiture of $22,417.91 worth of Bitcoin, 1,001,301.87 USDT in digital assets and $5.6 million linked to the CBEX scheme in 2025.
He further referenced the prosecution and subsequent deportation of 192 foreign nationals arrested in connection with cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud, describing the agency’s activities as evidence of efforts to address emerging threats.
The President pledged the executive arm’s support for ongoing judicial reforms, saying the judiciary must be adequately equipped to meet the demands of justice delivery in the digital era.
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said the annual workshop reflected the commitment of the NJI and EFCC to addressing challenges confronting the justice system.
She noted that technological developments had changed how digital evidence was obtained, preserved and presented in court, making disciplined case management and continuous judicial education increasingly important.
The CJN added that sustained capacity-building programmes had contributed to improvements in case management and the administration of justice.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described the workshop as timely, citing the growing sophistication of financial crimes and the challenges they pose to timely prosecution.
He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting the anti-corruption campaign through proactive legislation.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, called for stronger collaboration among the arms of government and other stakeholders to improve investigations and prosecutions.
In his welcome address, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the partnership between the institute and the EFCC had become an important part of efforts to strengthen judicial capacity in addressing financial crimes.
The EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, described the workshop as a national imperative, noting that rapid technological advances were increasingly challenging existing legal frameworks and investigative methods.
He said the commission had recorded convictions and financial recoveries under his leadership, while pledging transparent and judicious management of recovered funds and assets.
The workshop brought together judicial officers, lawmakers, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes.
Tinubu Urges Judiciary to Close Legal Loopholes Exploited in Financial Crime Cases