The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has made public its plans on what to do to corrupt judges in the country, The Nation reports.
Abubakar Malami (SAN) at the Senate for Ministerial Screening . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
Malami, who spoke as a special guest at the launching of a report by Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) at Weston Hotels, Opebi Link Road, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, January 19, disclosed that corrupt judges will no longer be allowed to escape from justice.
Speaking on a report titled: “Go Home and Sin no more: Corrupt Judges escaping from justice in Nigeria,” Malami, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant, White Collar Crimes, Abiodun Aikomo, said the resolution is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to kill corruption in the country.
Malami said: “I can assure you today that in line with the cardinal agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation shall ensure that every appearance of corruption in the Judiciary is dealt among other measures through criminal prosecution and forfeiture to the State of illegally acquired assets.
“Acts of judicial impunity will also not be condoned, so that our judges can be judicially accountable at all times in a corruption-free judiciary which is both independent and impartial. All these, shall be achieved, (together with partners like SERAP), without violating the fundamental human rights of the persons involved, and in line with Rule of Law and international best practices. That would be this administration’s own way of saying: Go and sin no more.
“The judiciary’s one and only mandate should be to deliver justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. The world over, the rule of law, and separation of powers which are inseparable components of a democratic government, presupposes the existence of an independent and impartial judiciary.
“Unfortunately the trust reposed in the Nigerian Judiciary is often betrayed on the altar of corruption or other conducts incompatible with the exalted office of a judge. Though, there have been cases of removal of some judges for acts unbecoming of judicial officers, often times upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (1999 Constitution) which empowers the President to remove a judicial officer from office on the recommendation of NJC.
“Nevertheless, in reality, on a comparison between the widely reported cases of corruption in the judiciary vis-à-vis the records of judicial officers who have actually been punished therefore, it would appear as if Nigerian judges enjoy total immunity from prosecution for corruption (and allied offences), whereas judges are not immune from discipline for any misdeed let alone for corruption.”
He insisted that corrupt judges would be prosecuted and their illegally acquired assets returned to the state.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Bin Saeed Albadi, today signed the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth.
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