Emmanuel OchayiThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI), and various stakeholders have called for the enactment of comprehensive legislation.
This call was made during the 5th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held at the NJI in Jabi, Abuja, and was documented in a communique issued on Thursday, October 5, 2023
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAddressing the issue, Mr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, a speaker at the workshop, emphasized that Nigeria lags behind other countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Kenya in enacting laws to tackle unexplained wealth.
He highlighted the growing concern over individuals leaving extravagant lifestyles that seem incompatible with their declared incomes.
“To address this issue, the Workshop has called upon the National Assembly to draft legislation to combat unexplained wealth,” Shittu stated firmly.
The communique also addressed the necessity for enhanced training for judicial officers and staff of anti-corruption agencies to cope with emerging trends in asset tracing and seizures, plea bargaining, cryptocurrency, data protection, artificial intelligence, and other facets of economic and financial crimes.
Additionally, the communique urged the full implementation of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, to prevent individuals from benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. It also called for the development of a comprehensive Whistleblower and Witness Protection Act to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases.
The three-day workshop boasted the participation of esteemed jurists, including Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeal Judges, Federal and State High Court Judges, and Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol, Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, and Dr. George Ekpungu, Secretary to the Commission, were among the attendees, along with investigators and prosecutors from across the country.
Participants further called upon members of the National Assembly and the Nigerian Bar Association to join future discussions, recognizing the significant impact of these issues on their respective constituencies.
The workshop, themed “Consolidating on the Gains in the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes in Nigeria,” was inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and other notable dignitaries in attendance.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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