ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigeria’s judiciary to strengthen its capacity to tackle emerging challenges in the administration of justice, particularly the growing sophistication of economic and financial crimes driven by digital technology.
Tinubu made the call while declaring open the 8th Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in partnership with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
The 2026 workshop, themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age,” brought together judicial officers from Nigeria’s superior and lower courts to enhance their ability to handle increasingly complex, technology-driven criminal cases.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said advances in blockchain technology and artificial intelligence had made financial crimes more sophisticated, requiring law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities to continually update their knowledge, skills and investigative approaches.
Tinubu Highlights Cryptocurrency Fraud Recoveries
The President cited recoveries made by the EFCC in cryptocurrency-related fraud investigations as evidence of the changing nature of financial crimes in Nigeria.
According to him, the commission recorded the forfeiture of $22,417.91 worth of Bitcoin, 1,001,301.87 USDT in digital assets and $5.6 million linked to the CBEX scheme in 2025.
Tinubu also disclosed that 192 foreign nationals arrested over alleged cyberterrorism and cryptocurrency fraud were prosecuted and subsequently deported.
He said the growing use of digital assets and emerging technologies in criminal activities had increased the pressure on investigators, prosecutors and judges to develop the expertise needed to secure successful prosecutions.
The President urged judicial officers to address procedural loopholes and weaknesses in criminal prosecutions that allow politically exposed persons and organised criminal groups to delay or frustrate trials.
President Calls for Judicial Reforms
Tinubu called for reforms to prevent individuals accused of financial crimes from exploiting legal technicalities to evade justice.
He described corruption and financial crimes as threats to Nigeria’s national survival, stressing that tackling the problems required the collective commitment of the executive, legislature, judiciary and citizens.
The President also pledged continued government support for initiatives aimed at strengthening judicial capacity and preserving judicial independence.
His remarks underscored the need for an effective justice system capable of responding to the challenges posed by digital financial transactions, cryptocurrency-related offences and technology-enabled fraud.
CJN Emphasises Digital Evidence and Judicial Training
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said technological developments had transformed the collection and documentation of digital evidence, making effective case management and continuous judicial training increasingly important.
She noted that sustained capacity-building programmes had contributed to improvements in judicial officers’ handling of cases and delivery of justice.
Kekere-Ekun’s remarks highlighted the importance of equipping judges with the technical knowledge required to assess electronic records, understand digital evidence and adjudicate cases involving complex financial transactions.
As financial crimes continue to evolve, judicial officers must be able to evaluate emerging forms of evidence while ensuring that criminal proceedings meet established legal standards.
Senate Committee Backs Proactive Legislation
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, described the workshop as timely, citing the increasing complexity of financial crimes, particularly cases involving politically exposed persons.
Udende reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign through proactive legislation.
He stressed the importance of legislative measures that strengthen the country’s response to evolving financial crimes and support effective investigation and prosecution.
AGF Calls for Stronger Institutional Collaboration
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, called for stronger collaboration among government institutions in the fight against corruption.
He noted that no arm of government could effectively tackle corruption independently, emphasising the need for coordinated efforts among the executive, legislature and judiciary.
The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, also described the institute’s partnership with the EFCC as an important component of efforts to improve the judiciary’s response to economic and financial crimes in the digital era.
EFCC Pledges Accountability in Recovered Assets
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the capacity-building workshop as a national imperative, noting that the commission had recorded significant convictions and financial recoveries over the past three years.
He pledged transparent and accountable management of recovered funds and assets, while warning that technological developments were advancing faster than existing legal frameworks for prosecuting financial crimes.
Olukoyede’s comments reinforced calls for stronger collaboration between investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers to ensure that the justice system keeps pace with evolving criminal methods.
Digital Crimes Put Nigeria’s Justice System to the Test
The workshop comes amid growing concerns about the challenges digital technology poses to financial crime investigations and prosecutions.
Cryptocurrency transactions, blockchain systems, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies can complicate the tracing of illicit funds, collection of admissible evidence and prosecution of suspects.
Tinubu’s call for stronger judicial capacity highlights the need for continuous professional training, effective case management, appropriate legislation and improved coordination among anti-corruption institutions.
The President’s position is that strengthening the judiciary’s ability to handle technology-driven crimes is essential to closing prosecution gaps, improving accountability and ensuring that individuals accused of financial offences are brought before the law.