To combat frustrating court delays and widespread abuse of legal processes during financial crime prosecutions, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside the National Judicial Institute have formally advocated for crucial procedural and legal overhauls.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 8th Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held in Abuja from October 13 to 15, 2026.
The workshop, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the NJI, had the theme, “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age”.
Participants recommended the designation of specialised judges and court staff to handle corruption cases, alongside targeted training to improve efficiency and ensure consistent application of existing laws.
They said delays in corruption trials could be significantly reduced by equipping specialised courts with the necessary skills and resources to handle complex financial crime cases.
The communiqué also called for a review of relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), where necessary, to strike a balance between protecting individual rights and ensuring the speedy administration of justice.
Participants urged investigative and prosecutorial agencies to strengthen investigation standards, particularly digital evidence management, to ensure cases are built on credible, reliable and admissible evidence.
They also recommended the institutionalisation of video recording and other safeguards in obtaining confessional statements to protect suspects’ rights and preserve the integrity of investigations.
On asset recovery, the participants described non-conviction-based asset forfeiture as an effective tool for recovering stolen assets but stressed that its use must comply with existing laws, human rights standards and strong institutional oversight.
They further called for procedural reforms to allow extensions of time for freezing suspected proceeds of financial crimes.
The communiqué also highlighted the need for governance protocols and policy guidelines to regulate the adoption of artificial intelligence in the administration of justice, with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the anti-corruption sector working alongside the National Assembly and the Judiciary.
Participants urged judicial officers, investigators and prosecutors to familiarise themselves with laws governing virtual assets and financial crimes, including the Investment and Securities Act 2025, the Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination 2026, the Rules on Digital and Virtual Assets Operations 2026 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2022.
They also called for increased investment in digital forensic laboratories, technology infrastructure and specialised training for investigators, prosecutors and judges.
On the use of open-source intelligence, the communiqué advised investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers to treat such information primarily as a source of investigative leads and corroboration, while ensuring that evidence presented in court meets applicable evidential standards.
The participants recommended that the NJI, in collaboration with the National Judicial Council, develop accredited certificate and diploma programmes to improve the capacity of judges and other stakeholders involved in the administration of justice.
They also urged greater cooperation among criminal justice stakeholders, particularly in sharing information on emerging trends in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes in the digital age.
The three-day workshop featured nine interactive sessions covering issues including the admissibility of confessional statements, abuse of court processes, garnishee proceedings, asset forfeiture, artificial intelligence, virtual asset recovery and digital forensics.
Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, judges of the Federal High Court, state high courts and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside investigators and prosecutors, attended the workshop.
President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
What You Should Know
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Judicial Institute are pushing for dedicated courts and judges specifically trained to handle complex financial corruption cases without unnecessary delays. This push aims to fast-track justice and curb legal loopholes often exploited by suspects to stall trials indefinitely.
- Positive Impact: Quicker corruption trials mean stolen public funds can be recovered faster, helping to restore institutional integrity and act as a stronger deterrent against financial crimes.
- Potential Concerns: Without careful implementation, rushing court processes could create risks of infringing on fundamental human rights or overwhelming newly designated judicial staff.
