EFCC, NJI Seek Special Judges For Corruption Cases

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have known as for the designation of specialized judges and court docket employees to deal with corruption circumstances as a part of efforts to scale back delays within the administration of justice.

The advice is contained in a communiqué issued on the finish of the eighth Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held in Abuja from October 13 to fifteen, 2026.

The workshop, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the NJI, centered on the investigation and prosecution of financial and monetary crimes in a digital age.

According to the communiqué, delays in corruption trials “will be greatly reduced by designating specialized judges and court staff to handle such cases” and equipping them with the mandatory expertise to make sure the environment friendly, sure and constant software of present legal guidelines.

It additionally known as for a evaluate of related provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the place crucial, to strike a correct stability between the safety of particular person rights and the necessity for fast trials.

The communiqué additional beneficial that investigative and prosecutorial businesses strengthen their requirements, together with digital proof administration, to make sure that circumstances are constructed on credible, dependable and admissible proof.

It urged a coordinated strategy to acquiring confessional statements, together with video recording and different safeguards, to guard suspects’ rights and protect the integrity of investigations.

On asset restoration, the communiqué described non-conviction-based asset forfeiture as an efficient device for recovering stolen property, whereas stressing that its use should adjust to present legal guidelines, human rights requirements and powerful institutional oversight. It additionally known as for procedural reforms to permit extensions of the interval for freezing suspected proceeds of economic crimes.

The communiqué beneficial that anti-corruption businesses, related ministries, departments and businesses, the National Assembly and the judiciary develop governance protocols and coverage tips for the usage of synthetic intelligence within the administration of justice.

It highlighted the necessity for better funding in digital forensic laboratories, know-how infrastructure and specialised coaching for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.

The communiqué additionally acknowledged that open-source intelligence needs to be handled primarily as a supply of investigative leads and corroboration, whereas guaranteeing that proof offered in court docket complies with relevant evidential guidelines.

It additional beneficial that the NJI, working with the National Judicial Council, develop accredited certificates and diploma programs to enhance the capability of judges and different stakeholders dealing with financial and monetary crime circumstances.

The three-day workshop introduced collectively justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, judges of the Federal High Court, state excessive courts and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside EFCC investigators and prosecutors.

Discussions coated delays and abuse of court docket processes, digital forensics, the admissibility of confessional statements, digital property, asset forfeiture and the usage of synthetic intelligence in investigating and prosecuting monetary crimes.