IN A significant move to bolster Nigeria’s judicial and anti-corruption frameworks, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have pledged to deepen their collaboration.
The commitment was solidified during a high-level meeting at the EFCC’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The delegation of the NJI, led by its newly appointed Administrator, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, was received by the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
In his remarks, Justice Adejumo stated that his decision to personally visit the EFCC underscored the critical importance of its work to Nigeria’s national survival and economic progress.
Adejumo, while commending the EFCC for its pivotal role in safeguarding national resources and promoting accountability, also delivered a stark assessment of corruption’s impact, noting that the “recklessness and wickedness of some individuals have held the country back from making progress.”
He added that “funds meant for development and the improvement of the lives of citizens are stolen by a few, leaving the majority in poverty”. He praised the leadership of Mr. Olukoyede, observing that the Commission has been “faring positively” and encouraged the team to “continue to do good.”
Adejumo, who was President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), emphasised the indispensable role of judicial integrity, famously quipping that “the fear of the EFCC is the beginning of wisdom.”
He assured the Commission of his institute’s full cooperation, vowing not to shield any judicial officer involved in wrongdoing.
“If anyone is involved in illegality, I will not shield them; instead, I will hand them over to the EFCC,” he stated. Justice Adejumo highlighted the symbiotic relationship between the two bodies, explaining that judges are fundamental to the EFCC’s success, as “investigations and prosecutions only have meaning when validated by judicial pronouncements.”
In his response, EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, congratulated Justice Adejumo on his recent appointment and commended his resolve to strengthen institutional integrity.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to its existing partnership with the NJI, which spans nearly seven years.
“Like you rightly said, we need the judiciary to succeed in our mandate. The support of the judiciary will not be taken for granted,” Mr. Olukoyede said. “As an agency, we do our job diligently and professionally, presenting our cases before the courts, and we trust that the judiciary will always do the right thing,” he added.
The meeting concluded with both agencies agreeing to enhance their partnership, focusing on training and capacity building for judicial officers on the complexities of economic and financial crimes, a move seen as crucial to securing convictions and upholding the rule of law.
