President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed worry over what he calls the delay of corruption cases before various courts across the country.
The President, on Monday called the attention of Nigerians to deferred corruption cases in his speech, during the anti-corruption summit in Abuja, on the role of judges in the fight against corruption.
He said that the expectation of the Nigerian public was yet to be met with regards to the removal of delayed cases filed before the courts.
President Buhari noted that it was unfortunate that the courts were tolerating delay by defense lawyers in the various cases of corruption filed by the government.
“This needs to change if we are to make success of our collective efforts in the fight against corruption,” he said.
He raised concerns that no corruption case before any Nigerian court was progressing as it should, despite the provisions of the administration of Criminal Justice Act, which has made provisions for speedy trial.
The President observed that when cases are not concluded, it sends a negative message that corruption pays.
On his part, the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said that the judiciary was aware of its responsibility but noted that the job of winning the war on corruption does not rest with the judiciary alone.
The former President of the Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, Hon. Justice John Vertes, who was the guest speaker, said that judicial and political corruption work together to affect societies.
It is therefore important that all arms of government play their role in ensuring that the country does not suffer because of corruption.
