Vice President Kashim Shettima says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured over 700 convictions and recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion within the last two years.
Shettima disclosed this on Monday while declaring open the 7th edition of the EFCC/National Judicial Institute (NJI) capacity building workshop for judges and justices in Abuja. The Vice President represented President Bola Tinubu at the event.
He attributed the anti-graft agency’s recent successes to the administration’s policy of non-interference in its operations, stressing that the government remains committed to promoting transparency and accountability across all sectors.
“As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and giving them the needed independence to execute their statutory mandates,” he said.
“This enabling environment is evident in the impact that has been made in the last two years. The EFCC, for example, has recorded over 700 convictions in the past two years of the present administration and recovered assets in excess of ₦500 billion.”
The Vice President noted that recovered proceeds of corruption are being reinvested into critical social and economic programmes, including the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes.
“Recovered proceeds of crime by the agency are being brought back into the economy to fund critical social investment programs, including the students’ loan and consumer credit schemes,” Shettima said.
He also highlighted ongoing government efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers, describing the judiciary as a key pillar in the fight against corruption.
“We are equally working within the boundaries of separation of powers to support the judiciary in improving the working conditions of judicial officers. The remuneration of judges has improved, and we are committed to further enhancement of their welfare and facilities,” he added.
Reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law and accountability, Shettima maintained that the administration does not shield political actors from investigation or prosecution.
“There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors on account of their affiliation to this government or the political party,” he stated.
“We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-corruption agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers to dispense justice and restore sanity.”
Shettima urged judicial officers to approach their duties with patriotism and integrity, stressing that corruption affects every segment of society.
“Courts and judges are strong pillars of the anti-corruption process. Except that the society has full confidence that those who pillage our resources will be subjected to the rule of law and brought to justice through a transparent process, this sneer over our collective commitment to fighting corruption will only get louder,” he said.
He warned that corruption spares no one — including members of the judiciary — and has long-term consequences for national development.
“There are no special roads, hospitals, or communities for judges. We all shop in the same markets and face the same risk of insecurity, which is the culmination of decades of willful theft and wastage of the nation’s resources by corrupt public officials,” he noted.
Calling for greater collaboration among the executive, legislature, and judiciary, the Vice President urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in the collective war against corruption.
“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right in our respective spheres of influence and ensuring that those who deviate from the norm are not allowed to go scot-free,” Shettima said.
“A robust judicial system is central to the success of anti-corruption efforts, and I count on our judges to help us achieve this noble aspiration.”
