By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA – The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday, said the judiciary was solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to rid the country of corruption.

However, the CJN noted that corruption in Nigeria “is a complex and many-sided problem”, which he said could not be solved in isolation.

“Let me emphasize that the fight against corruption is‎ only a part of the process of building good governance”, the CJN added, saying “we must all be accountable, transparent and adhere to the proverbial rules of the game”.

Justice Mohammed spoke at the opening ceremony of an international workshop on the Judiciary and the Fight against Corruption, 2016.

The two-day workshop was organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, the National Judicial Institute, NJI, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

According to the CJN, “tackling corruption is neither easy nor quick and it is a symptom of deep-rooted factors.

“The causes are complex and the means to control corruption are gradually being understood.

“There is no single magical solution, as is with most problems in development; it must be tackled simultaneously on all fronts, individually and collectively”.

He said: “Despite the role of the third Arm of State, I must reiterate that the responsibility of fighting corruption in our country lies with every one of us, institutionally and individually.

“We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect different results.

“Let us therefore ensure that all hands are on deck working towards a corrupt free Nigeria”.

The CJN said the judiciary would continue to play its role to listen attentively, consider wisely and judge decisively all matters brought before the court.

“I am sure that you will agree with me that corruption in Nigeria, as in other climes, is a complex and many-sided problem that cannot be solved in isolation.

“The reality of its corrosive effect is found in
the socio-economic threat that it poses to the development and harmony of Nigeria.

“As we have witnessed, corruption suppresses economic growth and undermines the sustainable management of our commonwealth.

“It also results in flagrant breaches of the fundamental human rights of citizens, undermines our collective security; aggravates poverty, while threatening the legitimacy of constitutional governance and democracy.

“Perhaps above these, corruption blunts the sword of justice and engenders contempt for the rule of law, a fundamental principle of any civilized society.

“It is therefore important for us to be holistic in our submissions and pragmatic in our solutions.

“I daresay that corruption cannot be easily tackled without transparent, efficient and speedy delivery of justice.

“Indeed, this is fundamental to our economic growth, development and national well being.

“Hence, the growth of our democracy is underpinned by the satisfactory resolution of our individual and collective differences through a proficient and virile justice system.

“Our clear and unambiguous message is that the Nigerian Judiciary will continue to play its role to listen attentively, consider wisely and judge decisively all matters.

“Rest assured, corruption will not be tolerated and due punishment will be meted out to anyone found guilty of the commission of same in accordance with the law.

“However, I must caution us all that the Judiciary cannot act on its own without the support of all stakeholders in the justice sector.

“The prosecution, defence, police and other parties must play their respective roles in ensuring that they obey all directions of the courts and act timeously in the interest of justice”.

Among dignitaries at the workshop which was declared open by President Buhari, included the Chief Justice of Ghana, Hon. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.

Meanwhile, in his Goodwill message at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed that his office has received 8,000 criminal case files from the Police.

He said the transfer of the case files was backed by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which he said prohibits policemen who are not lawyers from prosecuting criminal cases.

Malami said the Act has placed the responsibility of prosecuting most criminal cases on the Department of Public Prosecution at the Ministry of Justice.

While soliciting support of the justice sector in the current fight against corruption, the AGF said: “Permit me to use this opportunity to acknowledge, and further solicit the cooperation and support of the Judiciary in the Federal Government’s current efforts at sanitizing the polity through various measures which have resulted in the on-going trials before our various courts.

“We must continue to see ourselves as partners in jointly pursuing reform initiatives not only to expedite the trial process as envisaged by the ACJA, but which also ensure that trials are devoid of unnecessary delays and recourse to technicalities.

“Let us be encouraged by the fact that at the end of the day the Nigerian people will hold us all accountable for the state of the nation, whether we serve in the Executive, Judiciary or Legislature”.