An Abuja-based lawyer, Dr Ikenna Ihezuo, has called for the creation of special courts to handle corruption cases in a speedy and reliable manner.
Ihezuo made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that it was wrong to have alleged cases of corruption dragging into three or four years, saying this could create space for justice to be tampered with.
“To try a case of corruption and spread it over three to four years is not right; there are chances that people would meddle into the affairs of the judiciary or find a way to subvert justice,” he said.
He, however, said that those chosen to manage these special courts must be above board, stressing that it would be impossible for corrupt officials to dispense justice in corruption trial.
“You cannot give what you do not have; you cannot fight a corruption war with corrupt people.
“It must be somebody who is not corrupt; corruption must be fought with genuine people who have the interest to develop this country at heart,’’ he said.
He also said the EFCC could not fight corruption alone and called for the empowerment of other anti-graft agencies.
“ Even a part of the police would do a lot more because in a country where about 95 per cent of the people are corrupt, EFCC is just about one per cent, they can’t handle it.
“There are people in this country who have genuine interest toward the development of this country.
“You need to identify them, employ them and use them at both the federal and state levels; it would yield success,” he said.
Ihezuo said since the judiciary was the last hope of the common man, the judiciary should brace up and join the fight against corruption.
“I think we have started doing that. What the president is doing is the right thing.
“ The people who are untouchable are being touched now, which is the first thing we need to do to save the nation’s image.
“I believe that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man so they should try to sit up and say the truth where it is supposed to be said.
“ Look at the symbol of the judiciary, it is a woman with her eyes are covered; so they don’t have to look at anybody.
“ If you are corrupt and you are proven to be so, you should serve the jail term, ‘’ he said. (NAN)
Leave a Reply