The Attorney
General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami,
SAN, yesterday, disclosed that “corrupt judges will go to jail as the
government of President Muhammadu Buhari will actively promote and ensure that
corrupt judges are prosecuted and their illegally acquired assets are returned
to the State.”
Malami also vowed that there
will be no sacred cow in the fight against corruption in this
dispensation.
The AGF, who spoke as a guest at the
formal presentation of the report published by Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) entitled “Go home and sin no more: Corrupt
judges escaping from Justice in Nigeria,” observed that considering the pivotal
role judges play in the administration of justice, it is important to ensure
that they live above board.
“Considering the pivotal role that they
play in the administration of justice, it is important to ensure that Nigerian
judges, like the proverbial Ceazer’s wife, are beyond reproach or even
suspicion. Gone are the days when corrupt judges escaped from justice in
Nigeria,” he said.
The Nigerian chief law officer, who was
represented by Abiodun Ahikomo at the occasion, noted that the government of
President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure that corrupt judges are prosecuted after
they may have been sent out of the Bench by the National Judicial Council (NJC)
and their illegally acquired assets returned to the state.
He said: “I can assure you
today that in line with the cardinal agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s
administration, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation shall
ensure that every appearance of corruption in the judiciary is dealt with among
other measures through criminal prosecution and forfeiture to the State of
illegally acquired assets.”
Also,Lagos State Chief Judge,
Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, said both the Bar and Bench have the duty and
collective responsibilities towards the dispensation of justice and corrupt
free society.
Represented by Magistrate
Busola Okunuga, a deputy chief registrar, the CJ noted that there are several
mechanisms put in place by the judiciary to checkmate corruption and corrupt
practices in the judiciary.
On his part, SERAP Executive
Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said: “Corrupt judges are more dangerous to the
society than corrupt politicians because a corrupt judiciary denies both
victims of corruption and those accused of corruption access to an independent,
impartial and fair adjudication process.
Mumuni disclosed that SERAP
looks forward to working with the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure
the full implementation of the recommendations contained in their report.
The report, among other things, is
calling for the prosecution of corrupt judges; referral by the Chief Justice of
the Federation and the National Judicial Council of all cases of judicial
corruption to appropriate anti corruption agencies; publication and auditing of
spending by the judiciary; public and periodic disclosure of assets by the
Chief Justice of Nigeria and all other judges; retired judges should be allowed
to lead the National Judicial Council to improve its independence; and urgent
investigation of allegations of age falsification among judges by the National
Judicial Council.
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