The Federal Government has begun moves to establish special courts to try corruption-related cases as part of the efforts to fight graft in the country.
According to Punch Newspaper, President Muhammadu Buhari was opting for a comprehensive onslaught against the problem of corruption in the country.
It was learnt that the President had concluded plans to submit a bill on the planned special anti-corruption courts to the National Assembly.
It can be recalled that the Presidency had commenced the process of identifying fearless judges that would be saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting corrupt persons.
It was also gathered that the Federal Government was planning to establish 37 of the Special Courts to try corruption in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the 36 states of the Federation.
A top operative of one of the anti-graft agencies, who confided in one of our correspondents, said that the Federal Government decided to set up the planned special courts because of the long delay by regular courts in deciding corruption-related cases.
It was further gathered that the President recently made a demand for 36 judges with the requisite integrity and boldness to decide cases in line with the law and not according to influence of the people or the pecuniary gains that come with associating with them.
The anti-graft officer said, “The President is being careful; he does not want people to do a wishy-washy job for him.
“Buhari is pressing for the establishment of special courts to try corruption cases. He wants the courts to be established in Abuja and the 36 states of the federation so that they can fast-track such cases.”
Investigations further revealed that the Federal Government had contacted the National Judicial Council to provide judges with impeccable reputation to preside over the planned courts.
It was gathered that the NJC released the names of 100 judges from the 36 states of the federation to the leadership of three major anti-corruption bodies in the country after an internal process of selection.
The judges were screened by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission and the Department of State Security on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the focus of the on-going screening exercise is to identify judges with a passion for the law and the constitution rather than deference to personalities.
The officer stated, “On Tuesday, the NJC forwarded the list of 100 judges to the anti-corruption agencies for screening. The exercise is meant to select the judges for the special courts the President is moving to establish to try corruption cases.
“The plan is to get judges that are bold, courageous, and fearless. Many of them must have delivered sound judgements (in the past). They don’t want those who play to the gallery.
“The screening exercise is very intensive; they are passing through the NJC that has the list of all the judges. When the NJC is through with its screening, it passes the list of the judges to security operatives and the anti-graft agencies to continue with the investigation.
“And because this is a democracy, they have to go through acceptable legal channels; they have to amend the constitution to set up these courts. They want to start with speed; even the legislatures have to be involved to amend the constitution.”
It was also learnt that the anti-graft agencies screened the judges by doing background checks on them, particularly looking at their history at the bench.
The source said, “We are working on the information we got about them (the judges). There are those who have been compromised in the past, who will not be part of the arrangement.”
But the anti-corruption agencies are not saying much about the on-going screening exercise, which is said to have entered its second phase.
When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on the telephone on Friday, he said that he was not aware of it.
“I am not aware of the exercise you are talking about,” he said.
Similarly, the Resident Consultant, Media and events of the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said that he could not comment on the story, when contacted.
“I can’t comment on it,” he said.
Also, the Acting Director, Information, National Judicial Council, Mr. Soji Oye, said he was not aware of any plan to create special corruption courts.
It will be recalled that the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, had in 2012, when he was being screened by the Senate, called for the establishment of special courts for corruption cases.
He had said, “The reason for the clamour for special courts for certain cases has to do with the processes of law. Judges have corrupt cases and other cases to attend to, but if we have special courts for corruption cases, it would facilitate the process. I don’t think it will be too much to ask that a special court be dedicated to corruption cases.”
Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, and Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, described the plan to create special courts to handle corruption cases as a welcome development.
But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Nwobike, described the establishment of such courts as needless.
Keyamo, however, urged the government to put certain resources and laws in place for such special courts to achieve their intended goals.
He said, “Establishment of special courts will not solve the entire problem of anti-corruption cases and it will not solve all the problems of criminal cases. But it will go a long way if the courts are well equipped and have rules that will help fast track such cases.
“Special courts will not address the integrity of judges that will be sitting there. It is a welcome development and government should go ahead to establish them but some things should be put in place for the courts to achieve the intended goals.”
Adeniran also described the establishment of special corruption courts as desirable. He said such courts would help in quick determination of corruption cases.
He said, “It is desirable to the extent that it will hasten up the adjudication on corruption cases and will make it easier for the judges to handle.”
But Nwobike said that instead of creating special courts, government should focus on capacity building to enhance the competence of investigators and prosecutors.
He said, “It is needless. It will amount to waste of judicial resources to set up special courts to try corruption cases.”
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It's a welcome idea to establish special courts to try looters. In another way round it's a waste of resources. Why special courts when we have EFCC and ICPC ?. These two bodies should merge together and properly equipped with all necessary man power to carry out their duties. If they have all resources and eligible officers. Then we don't need special courts. They should carry out proper investigation with concrete details and when they have that at their disposal they can easily sent looters to jail if found quilty. They should be empowered and trusted to carry out investigation without bias or fear of the unknown.
ReplyDeleteEFCC and ICPC are not special courts. Special courts or not, courts do not investigate cases themselves. The courts rely on the evidence, the law and legal argument.
DeleteMr Man, ICPC and EFCC don't have the power to send anyone to jail. They are financial crime investigative agencies. Their mandate is to investigate and take people to court. Only the customary, magistrate, sharia, high court of states, federal high court, appeal court and the supreme courts can send people to jail.
DeleteBuhari will do this......Buhari will do that!!!
ReplyDeleteBuhari Do it and talk less.........
Oil fell to less than $40 a barrel ...its time to shiw nigerians that if you loot you must die!!!
Adopt the chinese method....too many people are dying in squalor and poverty as a result of a few looters.
I am in support of any move as long as it is focused to stamp out corruption instituted by Babagida and nurture by the clueless "president GEJ" government.
ReplyDeleteYes!!!! that would quicken cases and let the Nigerian public know how our rich country was ruin by greed... send a bill to the national assembly for its approval and let the trial be on national and satellite TV after-all we have been watching former Presidents Morsi and Mubarak of Egypt trial on satellite TV, all this online paid bloggers for these looters would be ashamed of themselves ....slowly but surly driven impact...I am feeling you BABA!!!....Buhari is working Nigerian has changed!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a noble idea but I wonder how Saraki, Akpabio, Buruji, Orji, etc will react to this move by Mr. President. We pray The National House of Corruption will pass the necessary laws for the establishment of this court. The looters of our collective wealth must face justice!
ReplyDeleteI support Mr President and encourage him to ride on. 100% support from me but remember that Fashiola despite his good governance should be probed for the the web site project. It is a serious case of corruption. IT IS UNFAIR (IN FACT INJUSTICE) TO PROBE OTHERS AND LEAVE FASHIOLA.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if el-rufai will escape this.
DeleteEstablishing special court to handle corruption cases is good. However, the government must promote excellence in all law courts in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteMiscarriage or misappropriation of justice is not good for any law-abiding citizen of Nigeria, whether the case is handled in special court or not.
This man called Muhammadu Buhari should be awarded the grand comedian of the entire world. At 72 and with a four-year mandate, the man is proposing to send 'looters to jail' through a process that will take nothing less that 20 years. The guy, who has been deliberately sidelining the legislature in Abuja is seeking to amend Nigeria's constitution through them. Does he even know that constitutional amendment have to be ratified by the 2/3 of 36 state houses of assembly in the country? That process alone will take nothing less than 1 year. Assuming that the legislature can so speed up the process in one month and set up these tribunals for Buhari, will they also set up Appeal and Supreme Courts for corruption? Or would these tribunals have the final say without the 'convicts' having the right to appeal? How about Buhari just doing what presidents do by facing governance in the main and then allow others arms of government to function independently. It seems he doesn't know what democracy means still.
ReplyDeleteVery fooled ignorant please go and beg ur parent to take u to school. Any thing good for peoples you no like it.
DeleteWhy do abuse him? He gave you a practical picture of the challenge ahead. Why the insult?
DeleteI think the right word to replace the "special court" is "tribunal". Based on the provision in our constitution, the convicts have the right to appeal to the appeal and or supreme court which may swing the whole process to the delay he is avoiding unless the constitution is amended.
ReplyDeletewhy are people particularly online bloggers so afraid, I am so shocked for Nigerians....Even us the followers that this man is fighting to liberate you could see hate,bias and corrupt ridden contributions all over their write-ups, please God help this man to make a difference like he has started in the life of Nigerians, because I can see a generation whose conscience is mortgage even online when you could afford to hid your ID and stand for truth people still wish that all corrupt politicians be set free... 16 years of impunity and corruption has really affected the psyche of citizens particularly the youths.. God help the federal republic of Nigeria
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind. It's a pity. We now celebrate corruption. People dont want it to end coz dey wish to participate in futute. Shame on all of us
DeleteSetting up Special court?
ReplyDeleteSetting up special court?
ReplyDelete