EFCC recovers ₦500bn, secures 700 convictions — Shettima

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered assets valued at over ₦500 billion and secured 700 convictions within the past two years, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Shettima disclosed this on Monday while declaring open the 7th edition of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

Representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, the Vice President said the anti-graft agency’s achievements reflect the administration’s commitment to ensuring the independence of institutions and promoting accountability.

“As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening anti-corruption agencies and granting them the independence to fulfill their mandates,” Shettima said.

“The EFCC, for example, has recorded over 700 convictions in the last two years and recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion.”

He noted that the recovered funds are being reinvested into critical sectors of the economy, including social investment initiatives like the student loan and consumer credit schemes.

Shettima also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers, saying, “We are working within the bounds of separation of powers to support the judiciary.

“Judges’ remuneration has improved, and we remain committed to further enhancing their welfare.”

Reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, the Vice President emphasized that no one is above the law.

“There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors because of their affiliations.

“Both the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies have been given the freedom to exercise their constitutional powers,” he said.

Shettima urged members of the judiciary to remain steadfast in upholding integrity and patriotism, warning that corruption affects every segment of society.

“Corruption spares no one — judges, public officials, or citizens.

“We all face the same consequences of a system weakened by graft.

“It is in our collective interest to fight and win the war against corruption,” he stressed.

The Vice President concluded by calling for stronger collaboration among all arms of government to sustain the progress made in combating corruption.

“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all do what is right and ensure that offenders are held accountable,” he said.

“A strong, transparent judiciary remains central to achieving this vision.”