The chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ola Olukoyede and Musa Aliyu, have raised concerns over persistent delays in the determination of high-profile corruption cases in Nigerian courts.
Both anti-graft chiefs spoke in Abuja while making presentations at the ninth meeting of the Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO), established by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to monitor the progress of corruption and financial crimes cases.
According to a statement issued by the NJC’s spokesperson, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Olukoyede appeared before the committee on March 3 and expressed concern over what he described as the liberal exercise of judicial discretion in some sensitive corruption cases.
The EFCC chairman argued that the continued consideration of frivolous applications by some courts has significantly contributed to the prolonged trial of corruption and financial crimes.
He warned that such delays undermine ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring the timely delivery of justice in high-profile cases.
Olukoyede proposed the establishment of clear benchmarks for acceptable judicial conduct and stressed the need for consequences where misconduct or actions frustrate the course of justice.
Also speaking at the meeting, ICPC chairman Musa Aliyu called for the introduction of a practice direction to guide courts in handling corruption cases across the country.
Aliyu suggested that corruption trials should be time-bound, similar to election petition cases, to ensure their speedy resolution.
He cited examples from Kenya and Zambia, where practice directions have been adopted to prescribe timelines for corruption trials.
The ICPC boss urged COTRIMCO to develop mechanisms that would strengthen standards in the prosecution of criminal cases and promote consistency in the application of judicial principles.
Both Olukoyede and Aliyu acknowledged progress recorded in the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases in the country.
Chairman of COTRIMCO and retired Supreme Court Justice, Suleiman Galadima, noted that collaboration between the NJC and anti-corruption agencies has continued to yield positive results.
Justice Galadima revealed that the EFCC secured 1,417 convictions in the first and second quarters of 2025, while the ICPC initiated 43 new cases and recorded nine convictions during the same period.
Although he acknowledged a decline in the number of cases currently being prosecuted by the ICPC, Galadima explained that the development was due to the commission’s increasing focus on preventive and proactive strategies aimed at curbing corruption before it escalates into prosecutable offences.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation in the fight against corruption.
Stakeholders at the meeting also reiterated their commitment to improving efficiency, accountability, and integrity in the handling of corruption and financial crimes cases across Nigeria.
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2026-03-05