By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, has ordered all the relevant prosecutorial agencies in the country and heads of courts, to tender an inventory of all the high profile corruption cases pending before them alongside a brief on reasons why they have not been concluded.

The CJN, in a statement he issued in Abuja, yesterday, stressed that the directive was in line with his resolve to fast-track quick disposal of cases involving money laundering and looting by public officers.

Musdapher reiterated his desire to have such cases concluded within a maximum period of six months. He spoke while receiving a delegation from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, led by its Acting Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, in his chamber at the Supreme Court.

The statement which was signed by the media adviser to the CJN, Mr Mohammed Adamu, said: “Hearing of cases within the shortest possible time, especially high profile ones on corruption, continues to be the subject of intense dialogue between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher and the two principal anti-corruption agencies in the country, namely the EFCC and the ICPC.

“The two anti-corruption bodies have been exploring legally permissible avenues for cooperation with the judiciary in order to fast track numerous corruption and corruption-related cases, which they prosecute and which have been pending before various courts in many parts of the country.”

Justice Musdapher while receiving a team of members of the ICPC led by its Acting Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, reassured the two agencies that speedy trial, especially of corruption cases, shall continue to be the high point of his judiciary reform initiatives.

“Already the ICPC in response to such requests has confirmed to the CJN 263 such pending cases charged between 2001 and 2011 and which involves 495 persons charged.

“The CJN had earlier hosted the then Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde on the same mission during which he pledged the creation of dedicated courts and the selection of special judges on a two-year experiment to handle only corruption and economic crimes related cases.

“In that regard, the CJN had since written to the President of the Federal High Court on the need to fashion out modalities for the operation of this special court.”