Awaiting Trial Inmates: DG Urges EFCC, Correctional Service to Act Swiftly

By Iyojo Ameh

The Director General of the Edo State Liaison Office, Mr. Peter Abulu, has called for urgent reform in the handling of awaiting trial inmates across Nigeria, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to align prosecution processes with current realities.

The Director General who represented the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo made this call during the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on anti-corruption, fiscal responsibility, and good governance organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes in collaboration with the EFCC and Barclays Global Consult for Edo State public servants in Abuja on Tuesday.

Abulu stated that the overcrowded custodial centers are burdened with inmates awaiting trial, some for minor financial infractions, stressing the importance of implementing non-custodial measures as stipulated in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.

“There are people still listed in cases who are already dead. This backlog undermines justice and worsens congestion in our prisons,” he stated, while applauding the EFCC’s dedication to prosecution and urging for accelerated judicial processes.

The workshop drew participation from key stakeholders including Professor Abubakar Suleiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), who underscored the importance of transparency, fiscal discipline, and anti-corruption efforts in public governance.

“Our democratic institutions can only thrive on the foundation of zero-tolerance for corruption and unwavering fiscal responsibility,” Suleiman said. He urged the National Assembly to extend anti-corruption oversight to subnational governments, where gaps remain evident.

Speaking on behalf of the EFCC Academy, Assistant Commander Moses Longe delivered a message from the Acting Commandant, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to capacity-building and prevention-focused strategies in combating corruption.

“This workshop reinforces our shared mission of accountability and transparency at all levels of government,” Longe noted.

Barclays Global Consult also emphasized the workshop’s aim to empower local government officials with tools to prevent corruption and enhance service delivery. Participants were encouraged to embrace ethical conduct, effective communication, and collaboration to drive community-based development.

Representing the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, the Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Austin Adesoro, reaffirmed the legislature’s support for the EFCC’s preventive strategy under Chairman Ola Olukayode. He revealed the Commission’s significant 2024 achievements—?365.4 billion recovered and 4,111 convictions secured.

“Our goal is to build a new EFCC, and we need robust legislative support to address judiciary-related setbacks and ensure enforcement is effective,” Adesoro said.

He praised the commitment of NILDS and the Edo State Government in promoting anti-corruption awareness at grassroots levels, and urged other states to domesticate relevant financial crime laws.

“As long as the culture of impunity persists, corruption will continue to undermine development,” he added. “This workshop must be the foundation of a new ethical movement within public institutions.”

The session concluded with a call for collaborative action among federal and state governments, civil society, and the private sector to create accountable institutions capable of delivering on Nigeria’s development goals.