Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Judicial Institute, (NJI) have known as for authorized and procedural reforms that may eradicate delays and abuse of court docket processes in the trial of corruption and different financial and monetary crimes instances.
The name is contained in a Communique issued by contributors on the finish of the eighth Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held in Abuja between 13-15 October, 2026.
The workshop was organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the NJI below the theme “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.”
The workshop in accordance to the anti-graft company introduced collectively Justices and Judges from throughout the nation, in addition to investigators and prosecutors of the EFCC.
The assertion signed by EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, disclosed that on the finish of the three days of lectures, exhaustive discussions and a workshop survey, contributors arrived at a number of resolutions that shaped the idea of the Communique.
According to Oyewale, contributors in the communique resolved that delays in the decision of corruption instances “will be greatly reduced by designating specialized judges and court staff to handle such cases as well as equipping such judges and courts with necessary skills through training to ensure efficient, certain and consistent application of existing laws in the administration of justice.”
They additionally known as for stability in the prison justice system, stating that it “must strike the proper balance between fairness, efficiency and legal certainty in the protection of individual rights on one hand and the speedy administration of justice, on the other hand.”
To obtain this, they advisable that related provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) be reviewed the place essential.
Participants urged that investigation requirements, together with digital administration protocols, “should be enhanced across investigative and prosecutorial agencies to ensure that prosecution of cases are based on credible, reliable and admissible evidence.”
The Communique additional said that adopting “a more inclusive coordinated approach in obtaining confessional statements will safeguard the rights of suspects and the integrity of investigation through institutionalizing the use of video recording and other necessary measures.”
Participants described Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture proceedings as “an effective tool for recovery of stolen assets,” however burdened that its use “must follow extant legal protocols, adherence to human rights standards and strong institutional oversight.” They additionally mentioned procedural reforms are essential to enable for extension of time for freezing suspected proceeds of monetary crimes.
The Communique advisable that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the anti-corruption sector, working with the National Assembly and the Judiciary, “should develop governance protocols as well as policy guidelines to guide the adoption and deployment of Artificial Intelligence in the administration of justice.”
Participants known as on stakeholders to acquaint themselves with current legal guidelines essential for the efficient investigation, prosecution and adjudication of monetary crime instances involving digital belongings. These embody the Investment and Securities Act (2025), the Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination (2026), the Rules on Digital and Virtual Assets Operations (2026) and the Proceeds of Crime Act (2022).
They additionally famous the “need for greater investment in digital forensic laboratories, technology infrastructure and specialized training for investigators, prosecutors and members of the Bench.”
Participants burdened the necessity for steady and specialised coaching for judicial officers and employees of anti-corruption companies, “to enhance their knowledge and skills in line with the evolving nature of economic and financial crimes and global best practices.”
“Investigators, Prosecutors and Judicial Officers should be trained to treat open-source intelligence primarily as a source of investigative leads and corroboration, while subjecting material relied upon in court to the applicable evidential rules,” the contributors mentioned in the Communique.
Subject to the necessity for legislative evaluation, they advisable that the NJI, working with the National Judicial Council (NJC), “should develop accredited certification courses at certificate and diploma levels to equip Judges and relevant stakeholders with necessary skills required to improve their efficiency in justice delivery.”
The Communique additionally known as for “continued and sustained synergy and coordination among all stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria,” significantly in sharing info on rising developments in investigating and prosecuting financial and monetary crimes in the digital age. It additional urged Heads of Court to “leverage information from this workshop to develop policies that clarify practice around various technical subjects raised.”
Participants expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima and different stakeholders and organizers of the workshop, who contributed to its success.
Presentations, technical classes and deliberations on the workshop coated totally different areas together with, the admissibility of confessional statements in prison trials, reforming garnishee proceedings, delay techniques and abuse of court docket processes, non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings, the function of synthetic intelligence in investigation and prosecution, the restoration, administration and disposal of digital belongings, and the use of digital forensics in the investigation and prosecution of financial and monetary crimes.
Justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, along with Judges of the Federal High Court, State High Courts and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and different stakeholders in the judiciary and anti-corruption corridors attended the workshop. A complete of 9 classes have been held, all of them interactive.
