The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, March 4th, demanded faster trials for corruption cases in Nigeria.
The demand was issued by the chairmen of the EFCC and ICPC, Ola Olukoyede and Musa Aliyu, at the two-day Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) meeting held in Abuja.
They acknowledged progress in high-profile prosecutions but insisted that the National Judicial Council (NJC) must do more to ensure the speedy resolution of corruption and financial crimes cases.
Olukoyede expressed concern over the broad exercise of judicial discretion in certain sensitive cases, noting that the frequent consideration of frivolous applications has significantly slowed down the pace of trials.
According to him, delays in corruption cases weaken public confidence in the justice system and could frustrate ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable.
He also advocated the establishment of clear benchmarks for acceptable judicial conduct, adding that actions capable of obstructing justice should attract consequences.
Aliyu proposed the adoption of a practice direction that would guide judges on the management of corruption-related trials, suggesting that such cases could be handled like election petitions, which are subject to strict timelines.
He pointed to Kenya and Zambia as countries where specific practice directions with prescribed timelines have been implemented for corruption trials.
Aliyu further urged COTRIMCO to develop mechanisms that would strengthen prosecutorial standards and promote consistency in the application of legal principles in criminal cases.
COTRIMCO chairman, Suleiman Galadima, said collaboration between the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies has continued to produce positive outcomes.
Galadima disclosed that the EFCC secured 1,417 convictions in the first and second quarters of 2025, while the ICPC filed 43 new cases and recorded nine convictions within the same period.
He explained that the reduction in the number of active prosecutions by the ICPC reflects the commission’s growing emphasis on preventive measures aimed at addressing corruption before it escalates into criminal offences.
Galadima reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the prosecution of corruption cases.
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