.jpeg "Legislation to address unexplained riches is sought by the EFCC, NJI, and other stakeholders.")
The aforementioned statement was sent through a formal communication on Thursday, marking the conclusion of the 5th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges. The workshop took place at the NJI, located in Jabi inside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), specifically in Abuja.
The communication additionally emphasized the pressing necessity of enacting legislation to effectively tackle the matter concerning the possession of unexplained wealth or assets.
During the 7th Session of the Workshop, Wahab Shittu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), highlighted the absence of legislation in Nigeria to tackle the matter of unexplained wealth, contrasting it with other jurisdictions such as the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Hong Kong, and Kenya.
Shittu expressed concern over the longstanding issue of unexplained wealth in Nigeria.
The individual further stated that the opulent lifestyles and extravagant assets, which appear incongruous with their reported incomes, have raised suspicions questioning the origins of their affluence.
In response to this matter, the Workshop has issued a request to the National Assembly to formulate legislation in order to combat it.
The Communique highlights the necessity of augmenting the training provided to judicial officers and staff members of anti-corruption authorities in order to effectively address emerging trends.
Furthermore, it effectively tackled the matter of obtaining the necessary skills for the intricate procedures involved in asset tracing and seizures, plea bargaining, cryptocurrencies, data protection, artificial intelligence, and other emerging forms of economic and financial offenses.
The communique addresses various concerns, one of which is to the necessity for all parties involved to exert their efforts in order to fully execute the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022. This implementation is crucial in preventing individuals from profiting from the gains obtained via criminal activities. The matter of establishing a comprehensive whistle-blower and Witness Protection Act to facilitate the examination and legal pursuit of corruption instances by pertinent authorities was also brought up, among other topics.
The three-day workshop convened a distinguished panel of jurists, including Justices from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and Judges from the Federal and State High Courts. Notable attendees also included senior members of the legal profession, such as Senior Advocates of Nigeria, as well as key figures from the EFCC, including the Acting Executive Chairman, Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol, and the Commission's Secretary, Dr. George Ekpungu. The workshop brought together investigators and prosecutors from various regions of the country. The participants collectively urged the National Assembly and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to actively engage in future iterations of the workshop, as the topics discussed therein have direct implications for their respective memberships.
The Workshop, titled "Consolidating on the Gains in the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes in Nigeria," was officially inaugurated on Tuesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Notable attendees included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and other esteemed individuals.