Special courts to try corruption cases – Presidential adviser says

chika ebuzor

June 24, 2016 8:42 PM

Sagay also dismissed allegations that President Buhari is using the anti-corruption fight to get back as supposed political enemies.

Professor Itse Sagay

The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption,

Sagay said “The amount of corruption cases unearthed in this country in the last nine months has been unprecedented and mind-boggling.

“How is it possible for the welfare of Nigerians to be improved when we are digging ourselves out of a hole created by the past administration.

“If this government had not taken over when it did, we would have been treading the path of Zimbabwe in terms of inflation.”

The Presidential adviser also disclosed that special crime courts will be established to prosecute financial crimes.

He said “My committee has concluded the drawing up of the Special Crimes Act for judges who will be specifically selected to adjudicate special crimes such as financial crimes, kidnapping, cyber crimes and drugs.”

Adding that “We have created a new manual for prosecution of financial cases which will give prosecutors a step by step process for prosecution.

“We have recommended that for effective prosecution, the prosecution should be made up of a team comprising an investigator, prosecutor and other lawyers.

“A series of workshops have been organised by the committee for 180 prosecutors across the country in which we brought in a number of experts to teach them how to draft charges to prevent the charges being faulted in court.”

He also dismissed allegations that President Buhari is using the anti-corruption fight to get back as supposed political enemies.

Sagay said “I am involved in the anti-corruption struggle, I have never received a call from the President giving me instructions on anything, he has assigned responsibilities and he is facing the governance of the country which is what he was elected for.

“We regard corruption cases from the last administration as low hanging fruits because they are the most obvious and have the most impact in terms of resolution.”

Prof. Itse Sagay recently called on President Buhari to reject the planned bill by the National Assembly (NASS) proposing a life pension and immunity for its principal officers.

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chika ebuzor