EFCC, NJI Seek Urgent Legal Reforms to Curb Corruption Trial Delays

ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have intensified calls for urgent legal and procedural reforms to dismantle bottlenecks and curb the abuse of court processes stalling corruption and financial crime trials across Nigeria.

​This imperative formed the core resolution of a communique issued at the close of the 8th Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges held in Abuja. Convened under the theme “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age,” the three-day gathering brought together senior jurists from appellate and trial courts alongside anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors.

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​To tackle chronic trial delays, participants resolved that designating specialized judges and court staff—coupled with targeted training—is vital for the efficient and consistent application of justice. They further stressed that the criminal justice system must carefully balance the protection of individual rights with the speedy administration of justice, recommending specific reviews of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) where necessary.

​Addressing the complexities of modern criminality, the communique underscored the need for enhanced digital management protocols, institutionalized video recording for confessional statements, and robust investments in digital forensic laboratories. Additionally, stakeholders called for the establishment of policy guidelines to govern the deployment of artificial intelligence in justice administration, alongside strict compliance with emerging regulations on virtual assets, including the Investment and Securities Act and recent virtual asset coordination orders.