Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima said on Monday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion ($330 million) over the past two years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Shettima, who represented President Tinubu at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for judges and justices jointly organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, said the government’s stance of non-interference has strengthened the anti-corruption drive.
“As an administration, we have prioritised public accountability by strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and giving them the needed independence to execute their statutory mandates,” Shettima said.
He added that the EFCC has secured over 7,000 convictions since 2023, attributing the progress to a renewed institutional independence fostered by Tinubu’s policies.
According to Shettima, proceeds from recovered assets are being channelled into developmental programmes such as the national students’ loan and consumer credit schemes. “Recovered proceeds of crime are being brought back into the economy to fund critical social investment programs,” he said.
The vice president also highlighted improvements in judicial welfare, noting that judges’ remuneration had been raised as part of efforts to enhance their working conditions.
Reaffirming Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law, Shettima said the administration does not shield political allies from investigation or prosecution. “There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of protecting political actors,” he said.
He urged judicial officers to uphold integrity and patriotism in the discharge of their duties, warning that corruption affects all segments of society.
“Corruption is no respecter of persons. Judges are not insulated from its consequences,” Shettima said, calling for stronger collaboration among all arms of government to sustain the fight against graft.
“A Nigeria free of corruption is possible if we all commit to doing what is right,” he added.