The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has directed heads of the divisions of courts to flora a exceptional courtroom for corruption in addition to fiscal criminal offence cases.
This, he explained volition curb the unnecessary delay associated with the prosecution of such cases.
In addition, the CJN has farther directed heads of courts to compile in addition to forrard to the National Judicial Council (NJC), comprehensive lists of all corruption in addition to fiscal criminal offence cases with them.
Justice Onnoghen disclosed the measures Mon at the exceptional session of the Supreme Court where he administered oath on 29 novel Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
Speaking inward the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, old Vice President Alex Ekwueme in addition to other dignitaries including province governors in addition to past times Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justice Onnoghen said they were aimed at supporting the grapple against corruption of the acquaint administration.
In gild for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to monitor in addition to effectively enforce the foregoing Policy, the CJN announced that an Anti-Corruption Cases Trial Monitoring Committee volition live on constituted at the side past times side Council meeting.
The committee, he explained, “would live on saddled with, amidst other things the responsibleness of ensuring that both Trial in addition to Appellate Courts treatment corruption in addition to fiscal criminal offence cases fundamental into in addition to abide past times our renewed efforts at ridding our province of the cankerworm.”
Justice Onnoghen farther directed Heads of Courts to clamp downwards on both Prosecution in addition to Defence Counsel who indulge inward the unethical practise of deploying delay tactics to stall criminal trials.
He said; “Heads of Courts are at i time to study such cases to the NJC which inward turn, would transmit them to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, inward the representative of Senior Advocates, in addition to Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee inward the representative of other Legal Practitioners.”
“Heads of Courts receive got been directed to designate inward their diverse jurisdictions, i or to a greater extent than Courts, depending on the book of such cases, every bit Special Courts alone for the role of hearing in addition to chop-chop determining corruption in addition to fiscal criminal offence cases.
“Where such cases come upward on appeal, to either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, Special Dates on each week, shall live on fixed alone for hearing in addition to determining such appeals.
The CJN noted that the judiciary cannot win this state of war alone; hence the involve for collaboration in addition to interface with stakeholders inward this noble cause.
“We are nether no illusion that the grapple against corruption would live on an slowly one, every bit nosotros are already aware that when y'all grapple corruption, corruption fights back; merely nosotros are determined to win it. We require all hands to live on on deck to grapple this monster.
“We inward the Supreme Court, having reduced the pre-election appeals inward the course of pedagogy of the Third Term of the final Legal year, volition devote much of this First Term inward dealing, past times agency of trouble work, with the identified 18 (18) EFCC, ICPC, in addition to Economic Crime cases with the normal Civil, Criminal, in addition to Political cases,” he revealed.
The CJN observed “We must non lose sight of the indispensable role of the judiciary inward the grapple against corruption.
“Corruption continues to house the judiciary inward the oculus of the storm, but, nosotros cannot permit that to deter us or weaken our resolve. It is regrettable that the icon of the Judiciary has been tarnished past times the notion that the Nigerian Judiciary is bedeviled past times corrupt elements, hence the involve for an icon edifice parade. We must convey that acts of misconduct of a few rub off on the residue of the judiciary in addition to do the impression that all judicial officers receive got their hands unclean with the proceeds of corruption. Let me live on clear here; it is non going to live on draw of piece of occupation organisation every bit commons for the few unscrupulous elements inward our midst.”
Justice Onnoghen said he was determined to redeem the battered icon of the judiciary.
“Any judicial officeholder found wanting would live on dealt with decisively, in addition to shown the agency out swiftly. It is thence for this argue that the independence of the judiciary must live on entrenched if nosotros are to fit the trust in addition to confidence of the citizens of Nigeria.
We, inward the judiciary are fully aware in addition to inward fact worried past times concerns expressed past times members of the populace on the really tiresome speed with which corruption cases inward detail are beingness heard or determined past times our courts.”
He noted that although the Administration of Criminal Justice Act contains many commendable provisions to speed upward the procedure of criminal prosecution generally, it is clear that nosotros nonetheless involve to employ to a greater extent than strategies to back upward in addition to strengthen this constabulary inward fast tracking the criminal judge system.
On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in addition to Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) applauded the vigorous procedure of reforms aimed at re-positioning the nation’s judiciary to play its role inward a to a greater extent than humane in addition to efficient manner.
Malami too acknowledged Justice Onnoghen’s Circular on Practice Direction dated May 28 on the compulsory enforcement of Arbitration provisions inward contracts past times the courts inward gild to promote faster commercial dispute resolutions in addition to foster greater confidence inward the judicial organisation past times domestic in addition to unusual investors.