At the 6th Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Judicial Institute (NJI) Capacity Building Workshop, judges and legal experts called for greater caution in granting restraining orders, particularly in cases involving corruption and financial crimes.
The workshop, held on October 9, 2024, in Abuja, concluded with a communiqué urging judges to be wary of issuing unjustified restraining orders, which can delay corruption cases and undermine public trust in the judiciary. Participants, including judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and other stakeholders in the anti-corruption space, noted that such orders, often sought by government officials and suspects under investigation, pose significant challenges to the swift resolution of cases.
The communiqué emphasized several key recommendations, including increased reliance on non-conviction-based asset forfeiture, especially concerning digital assets. It also called for the designation of judges with experience in handling financial crime cases and stressed the importance of intelligence-driven investigations over whistleblower-reliant methods.
The participants highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between law enforcement and international agencies such as INTERPOL and AFRIPOL to combat cross-border financial crimes. They also proposed a more inclusive approach in handling Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) cases, aligning with Nigeria’s risk profile and ensuring coordination among all stakeholders.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, praised Nigeria’s success in asset recoveries on the global stage, encouraging the judiciary to continue supporting the fight against corruption. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who opened the workshop, noted the importance of integrating stakeholders in curbing economic and financial crimes.
The event attracted numerous dignitaries, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney-General, and former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
