Tinubu asks Judiciary to block loopholes used to escape justice

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the judiciary to overhaul the justice system and eliminate loopholes that allow well-connected individuals to escape punishment for their crimes. He emphasized that corruption cannot be eradicated without an independent, reform-minded judicial system, stressing that corruption has no regard for status and affects all branches of government.

During a workshop in Abuja, Tinubu urged the judiciary to examine existing legal frameworks, challenge outdated precedents, and close procedural gaps exploited by politically exposed persons and organized crime actors. The President warned that corruption poses an existential threat to Nigeria and argued that framing the anti-corruption campaign as solely an executive responsibility is a grave mistake.

He emphasized that the judiciary is not just a mechanical arbiter of rules but an active guardian of moral order and social equity. Tinubu stressed that there can be no meaningful progress in combating corruption without an independent, progressive, and reform-minded judiciary. He commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for organizing the 8th edition of the Judges and Justices Workshop, which focuses on the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes in the digital age.

Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun noted that the workshop reflects the commitment of the NJI and EFCC to address the challenges faced by stakeholders in Nigeria's justice system. She highlighted the impact of technology on how digital evidence is obtained and recorded, emphasizing the need for effective case management in the digital era.

Kekere-Ekun stated that capacity-building programs, such as the EFCC and NJI collaboration, aim to strengthen the judiciary and have yielded positive results, including improved case management and the dispensation of justice among judicial officers.