CJN Kekere‑Ekun Reaffirms Judiciary’s Commitment to Speedy Trial of Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing Cases
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun, has reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the nation’s judiciary to the prompt and efficient adjudication of cases involving money laundering and terrorism financing. She made this known while addressing participants at the 42nd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, held in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Justice Kekere‑Ekun stressed that Nigeria’s judiciary recognises the critical importance of timely, predictable, and transparent judicial decisions in meeting the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). She noted that such efficiency is essential to strengthening the country’s compliance with global anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing (AML/CFT) obligations.
Recalling that Nigeria was placed on the FATF Grey List in February 2023, the CJN highlighted that the listing reflected international concerns over the effectiveness of the nation’s AML/CFT regime. She acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in driving reforms aimed at securing Nigeria’s removal from the list.
According to her, the Grey List designation served as a wake‑up call that spurred unprecedented national reforms. “We remain firmly committed to ensuring Nigeria’s exit from the Grey List within the shortest possible time,” she assured, emphasising the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law and enhancing judicial efficiency in the fight against economic crime.
Justice Kekere‑Ekun underscored that no single country can effectively tackle the complexities of cross‑border economic crime in isolation. She called for deeper international collaboration through robust mutual legal assistance frameworks, real‑time intelligence sharing, judicial cooperation in transnational litigation and asset recovery, and sustained dialogue such as that fostered by the Cambridge Symposium.
She urged judges to continually adapt legal doctrines, court processes, and judicial attitudes to keep pace with the rapid evolution of criminal methods. “Judicial conservatism must not be an excuse for inertia; rather, it must be guided by a deep commitment to justice, balance, and international cooperation,” she stated.
The CJN revealed that Nigeria’s collaborative efforts with other jurisdictions are already yielding positive recognition. She cited the FATF’s 2024 review, which acknowledged significant progress in addressing many of the strategic deficiencies identified in the country’s AML/CFT framework.
Justice Kekere‑Ekun further disclosed that the judiciary has implemented notable improvements in infrastructure and expanded specialised training for judges on economic and cybercrime matters. She referenced the recent Supreme Court decision in Attorney‑General of the Federation v. Princewill Ugonna Anuebunwa, which she said reaffirmed the judiciary’s pivotal role in strengthening international cooperation.
