The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has decried the slow pace of trials involving politically exposed persons (PEPs), warning that delays in prosecuting corruption cases continue to frustrate Nigeria’s anti-graft efforts.
Speaking at the Canada-Nigeria Legal Exchange Forum in Toronto, Olukoyede said influential defendants have learned to exploit loopholes in the justice system to stall their cases, eroding public confidence and weakening the fight against corruption.
“A major challenge is the slow pace of trial involving some politically exposed persons who are adept at exploiting gaps in the criminal justice system to frustrate their prosecution,” he said. “Justice delayed is indeed justice denied.”
The EFCC chairman, who has held various positions within the Commission before his current role, described Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight as particularly difficult due to procedural delays, interlocutory injunctions, and systemic inefficiencies that make swift justice nearly impossible.
He noted that prolonged trials allow suspects to enjoy their illicit wealth, influence investigations, and manipulate the legal process, which undermines deterrence and emboldens others to commit financial crimes.
Olukoyede disclosed that the EFCC secured more than 7,500 convictions and recovered assets worth over ₦566 billion and $411 million in the past two years. However, he said these achievements could have been greater if corruption cases moved faster through the courts.
He called for urgent judicial reforms to remove technical bottlenecks, enforce time-bound trial procedures, and curb the abuse of injunctions that stall high-profile cases.
“Swift justice delivery is vital to sustaining the integrity of our anti-graft efforts,” Olukoyede said.
He also criticised the complicity of some professionals, including senior lawyers, who assist corrupt officials in concealing or laundering stolen funds.
“We cannot, in one breath, condemn corruption and, in another, offer our skills to help the corrupt loot our common wealth. Is there no ethics or conscience in practice?” he asked.
Olukoyede urged Nigerians in the diaspora, especially legal practitioners in Canada, to help prevent the laundering of stolen funds through foreign financial systems.
“With the increasing number of Nigerians migrating to Canada, there’s a risk of the country becoming another hub for laundering illicit wealth. I urge you to remain vigilant and provide useful information to law enforcement agencies,” he said.
The EFCC chairman reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the Commission through internal reforms, improved ethics, and institutional efficiency. He said new specialised departments and upgraded zonal commands have been established to enhance accountability and transparency.
Despite the challenges, Olukoyede expressed optimism that Nigeria could overcome its corruption problem if all stakeholders including the judiciary, the bar, the media, and the public worked together.
“The anti-corruption fight is not for the EFCC alone. It is a collective responsibility,” he said. “We must build a justice system that is fair, efficient, and fearless one that delivers justice, not excuses.”
