The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have called for legal and procedural reforms to speed up the prosecution of corruption and other financial crime cases in Nigeria.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the eighth capacity-building workshop for justices and judges, held in Abuja from October 13 to 15.
The workshop, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the NJI, was themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.” It brought together justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, judges of the Federal High Court and state high courts, as well as EFCC investigators and prosecutors.
Participants recommended the appointment of specialised judges and court staff to handle corruption cases, alongside regular training to improve the efficiency and consistency of judicial proceedings.
They also called for a review of relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), where necessary, to ensure a balance between protecting individual rights and delivering justice without unnecessary delays.
The communiqué urged investigative and prosecutorial agencies to strengthen their investigation procedures and digital evidence management to ensure that cases are built on credible, reliable and admissible evidence.
Participants further recommended the institutionalisation of video recordings of confessional statements to protect suspects’ rights and maintain the integrity of investigations.
On asset recovery, they described non-conviction-based asset forfeiture as an effective means of recovering stolen assets but stressed that its application must comply with existing laws, human rights standards and institutional oversight.
They also called for procedural changes to permit extensions of time for freezing suspected proceeds of financial crimes.
The workshop participants urged anti-corruption agencies, the National Assembly and the judiciary to develop guidelines for the adoption and use of artificial intelligence in the administration of justice.
They also stressed the need for greater investment in digital forensic laboratories, technology infrastructure and specialised training for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.
Additionally, participants urged justice sector stakeholders to familiarise themselves with laws governing cases involving virtual assets, including the Investments and Securities Act 2025 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2022.
The communiqué noted that open-source intelligence should mainly be used to generate investigative leads and corroborate evidence, while any material presented in court must comply with applicable evidential rules.
Participants also recommended that the NJI, in collaboration with the National Judicial Council, establish accredited certificate and diploma programmes to strengthen the capacity of judges and other justice sector stakeholders.
They called for sustained cooperation among relevant institutions to address emerging challenges in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes in the digital age.
