Tinubu Criticizes Judiciary for Delaying Anti-Corruption Fight

President Bola Tinubu says granting frivolous applications and delivering judgments based on technical grounds are impeding the war against corruption.

Tinubu spoke through Vice-President Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Monday while addressing judges and justices during a capacity-building workshop organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Judicial Institute (NJI).

The president said judgments should be delivered based on the facts and merit of the case instead of technicalities.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the judiciary is central to the success of the anti-corruption efforts. The commitment, courage, and patriotism of judicial officers are the ingredients that make the difference in the fight against corruption,” Tinubu said.

“Though I am aware that prosecution of corruption matters has improved in the light of the justice sector reforms in the last few years, we are not oblivious of some challenges that continue to impede the speedy adjudication of corruption cases.

“They include frivolous applications and appeals meant to delay the trial, intimidation of judges by counsel, and judgment based not on the facts of cases but on technicalities.”

President Tinubu pointed out that “corruption is cancer that continues to deny the nation the full benefits of her God-given resources”.

He said instead of looking to the anti-corruption agencies for a solution, Nigerians have a responsibility to collectively tackle corruption as a “common enemy”.

The president noted that technology has increased the complexity of financial crimes beyond the scope of current jurisprudence, adding that the emergence of virtual assets “has occasioned an upsurge in cryptocurrency fraud”.

He urged the judiciary to ensure that the courts are equipped with the required knowledge to handle cases involving the new forms of crime.

“As an administration, we remain committed to creating the right environment for judicial officers to discharge their responsibilities,” he said.

“One of the major actions of the government within the first year of my administration was improving the welfare of judges across the board with an increase in their remuneration.

“Official accommodation is also being provided for various categories of judicial officers in highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory.”