By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Tuesday , described calls for the establishment of special courts for the prosecution of economic crimes in the country as needless, insisting that such cases ought to be referred to it by the various anti-graft agencies.

The CCT which made its position on the issue known,Tuesday, equally decried what it described as “uncanny penchant by anti-graft agencies in the country to besiege the regular courts with plethora of cases involving financial impropriety by public officers,” noting that it is statutorily equipped to try such matters.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, who made these assertions shortly after he was sworn into office by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, in Abuja yesterday, specifically implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to forthwith, desist from inundating the regular courts with such cases.

According to him, “instead of asking for the establishment of a special court for the trial of financial crimes involving public officers accused of converting public fund for their personal usage, the most appropriate place for both the EFCC and the ICPC to file such cases should be at the tribunal.

“Not only that these cases are most often stalled at the hearing stage, the regular courts have been greatly over-laboured with so many case-files that could have received summary trial at the tribunal and this is a very wrong trend that must be corrected.”

Other members of the tribunal who also took their oath of office were Mr. Atedze Agwadza and Justice Ewa Isaac Robert Odu (rtd).

President Goodluck Jonathan had on July 1, okayed their appointment sequel to recommendations by the National Judicial Council, NJC.

The CCT is statutorily vested with powers to prosecute matters pertaining to any breach of the stipulated code of conduct for public officers in Nigeria.

Meantime, the CJN while inaugurating the 3-man panel of the Tribunal, yesterday, urged them to eschew bribery and corruption, stressing that he would not hesitate to wield the big stick on any of them found professionally wanting.

“You are not obligated to any man but God. Your concern should be to do justice to all manner of people. We are happy to have you on board. You are all persons of proven integrity, that’s why you have been called to do this job. We hope you will justify this confidence.” he added.