The chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ola Olukoyede and Musa Aliyu, have expressed concerns over persistent delays in courts’ determination of high profile corruption cases.

Olukoyede and Aliyu spoke in Abuja while making presentations at the ninth meeting of the Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) set up by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to, among others, monitor progress in corruption cases.

A statement by NJC’s spokesperson, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said Olukoyede, who appeared before the committee on March 3, raised concerns over what he called the liberal exercise of judicial discretion in some sensitive cases.

The EFCC boss argued that the continued consideration of frivolous applications by some courts has contributed significantly to prolonged trials.

He warned that such delays undermine efforts meant to ensure timely justice delivery in corruption and financial crimes cases.

The solution to this, Olukoyede said, is to establish clear benchmarks for acceptable judicial conduct.

He also argued that there should be consequences for misconduct or actions that frustrate the course of justice.

Aliyu, who appeared before the committee’s meeting yesterday, called for the introduction of a practice direction to guide courts in the handling of corruption cases across the country.

The ICPC boss suggested that corruption trials should be time-bound, as it is the case with election petitions, to ensure the speedy determination of such cases.

He cited the examples of Kenya and Zambia, where practice directions have been adopted, and he prescribed specific timelines for the trial of corruption cases.

Aliyu urged COTRIMCO to develop mechanisms that would strengthen standards in the prosecution of criminal cases and promote consistency in the application of judicial principles.

Olukoyede and Aliyu acknowledged the progress made in the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases across the country.

COTRIMCO’s Chairman and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima, acknowledged that the collaboration between the NJC and anti-corruption agencies has continued to yield positive results.

Justice Galadima said the partnership between COTRIMCO and the anti-graft agencies has recorded impressive outcomes.

“According to him, the EFCC secured 1,417 convictions in the first and second quarters of 2025 alone, while the ICPC initiated 43 new cases and recorded nine convictions during the period under review.

“Although Justice Galadima noted a decline in the number of cases currently being prosecuted by the ICPC, he explained that the development was due to the Commission’s increasing focus on preventive and proactive strategies aimed at curbing corruption before it escalates into prosecutable offences.

“He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation in the fight against corruption.

“Stakeholders at the meeting also reiterated their commitment to improving efficiency, accountability and integrity in the handling of corruption and financial crimes cases across the country,” the statement said. (The Nation)

Update news