Magu Woos Judges to Join Corruption War

Alex Enumah in Abuja
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday pleaded with judges and judicial officers in the country  to join in the fight against corruption.

He made the plea yesterday while speaking at ‘The Hon. Chief Judge’s Annual Merit Award’ organised by the Federal High Court (FHC) in honour of retirees of the court, including the former Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

Magu said it is expedient for all, including the judicial officers to be involved in the battle if corruption must be eradicated from the country.

The acting chairman of the anti-graft agency also urged judges to play their parts in their individual capacity to ensure that corruption is eradicated from the country.

Meanwhile, the acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, commended judges of the FHC for their support and cooperation since he assumed leadership of the court.

He said the event was meant to facilitate with FHC retirees and honour them as well as recognised their contributions to the legal profession.

He said the launch of the book, a compilation of Justice Auta’s  judgments presented to the public at the event,  was sponsored by FHC and that the money realised from its sales will be put into the Treasury  Single  Account (TSA).

Justice Kafarati commended justices of the court for their efforts to decongest the courts of high profile corruption and terrorism cases particularly in Kainji.

The acting CJ disclosed that of the 1,669 accused persons detained in Kainji,  50 were convicted, 59 had their cases struck out 34 were adjourned to be heard in Abuja and Minna while  212 of them  were released.

He however promised improved welfare package for the judicial officers in next year.

A human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who also spoke at the event, noted that the Federal High Court is perhaps the most important court in the country in upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He urged the judges of the court to perform their duties without fear or favour in upholding the tenets of the constitution, saying: “Be courageous and do something creative with your judgments and let the country move forward.”

Ozekhome said Magu stride in the fight against corruption would be totally convincing if the anti-graft agency arraign indicted former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachair Lawal,  or a serving minister in court.

“Put one person in your government  in prison over corruption, then you would have proved and demonstrated seriousness of the fight,” he stated.