President Bola Tinubu has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion and secured over 700 convictions within the past two years.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the opening of the 7th edition of the EFCC–National Judicial Institute (NJI) capacity-building workshop for judges in Abuja, the President attributed the success to his administration’s commitment to transparency and its hands-off approach to the agency’s operations.
Tinubu said his administration had made the fight against corruption and public accountability a top priority, ensuring that anti-graft bodies like the EFCC operate with full independence.
“As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and giving them the needed independence to execute their statutory mandates,” he stated.
Highlighting the results of this policy, the President said, “This enabling environment is evident in the impact that has been made in the last two years. The EFCC, for example, has recorded over 700 convictions in the past two years of the present administration and recovered assets in excess of ₦500 billion.”
Tinubu noted that the recovered funds were being reinvested into critical sectors of the economy to fund development and social welfare programmes.
He said, “Recovered proceeds of crime by the agency are being brought back into the economy to fund critical social investment programmes, including the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.”
The President also assured that his government remained committed to supporting the judiciary, particularly in improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers. These reforms, he said, were necessary to uphold the rule of law and ensure fair dispensation of justice.
Reaffirming his administration’s dedication to accountability, Tinubu declared that no political figure or public official would be protected from prosecution.
“There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors on account of their affiliation to this government or the political party,” he said. “We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-corruption agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers to dispense justice and restore sanity.”
Tinubu further urged judges and justices to remain steadfast, emphasizing that corruption affects every segment of society.
“Courts and judges are strong pillars of the anti-corruption process,” he said. “Except that the society has full confidence that those who pillage our resources will be subjected to the rule of law and brought to justice through a pure and transparent process of adjudication, our collective commitment to fighting corruption will continue to face scepticism.”
He warned that corruption spares no one, stating, “Corruption is no respecter of persons. Your bonded position on the bench does not insulate you from its consequences. There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges. We all face the same risks that stem from decades of willful theft and wastage of the nation’s resources.”
President Tinubu called for stronger collaboration between the executive, legislature, and judiciary to consolidate gains in the anti-corruption fight, stressing that Nigeria’s progress depends on justice and transparency.
“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right in our respective spheres of influence, and ensure that those who deviate from the norm are not allowed to go scot-free,” he said.
“A robust judicial system is central to the success of anti-corruption efforts, and I count on our judges to help us achieve this noble aspiration.”
What You Should Know
Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, the EFCC has intensified its anti-corruption efforts, recovering over ₦500 billion and securing more than 700 convictions in two years.
Tinubu credits these results to the agency’s operational independence and his administration’s emphasis on transparency.
The recovered funds are being redirected into national development initiatives, such as student loans and credit schemes, reinforcing the government’s stance that no one—regardless of political affiliation—is above the law.
