Abuja: The Director General of the Edo State Liaison Office in Abuja, Mr. Peter Abulu, has called for the strengthening of the prosecution process in Nigeria’s fight against corruption, particularly as it relates to financial crimes. He made this appeal on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at a national workshop on “Anti-Corruption, Fiscal Responsibility and Good Governance for State and Local Government Officials,” held at the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja.
Commending the House of Representatives and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for organizing the event, Abulu described the workshop as both timely and strategic in the nation’s ongoing effort to entrench transparency and accountability across all tiers of government.
“As public officials, we are stewards of public trust. Our actions or inactions have far-reaching consequences. This workshop equips us with the frameworks and tools to meet our responsibilities with professionalism and ethical clarity,” he said.
Speaking on the situation in Edo State, Abulu noted that the government has taken active steps to align with national standards in anti-corruption and fiscal discipline. He cited institutional reforms, inter-agency collaboration, and citizen-centered governance as hallmarks of Edo’s public sector approach.
He, however, emphasized the need to address delays in the prosecution of corruption cases. According to him, prolonged trials not only weaken public confidence but also impose heavy financial and psychological burdens on both the state and the accused.
“The EFCC must not only investigate and prosecute but also take full advantage of provisions in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019,” Abulu stated. “In appropriate cases, non-custodial sentencing should be considered to help decongest our correctional facilities while maintaining the integrity of the justice system.”
He also praised the National Assembly for enacting relevant anti-corruption legislation and urged all participants at the workshop to actively engage and return to their respective offices with practical solutions to strengthen governance at the grassroots level.
The two-day workshop brought together key players from across state and local government administrations, offering a platform for knowledge-sharing and strategic planning aimed at improving public accountability in Nigeria.
