TheCable

Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), says the National Judicial Council (NJC) has so far received 1,124 corruption cases from various jurisdictions.

Onnoghen said this on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO).

The CJN said the cases were received from the jurisdictions in compliance with NJC directive.

He advised members of the committee to help eliminate delays in the trial of corruption cases.

“The heads of court were directed to compile and submit a compendium of corruption cases being handled by their various jurisdictions,” Onnoghen said.

“I also directed them to designate a court or more in their jurisdictions, depending on the volume of such cases, solely for the trial of such cases.

“Needless to say that the nation expects so much from this committee, going by the avalanche of positive responses and recommendations that have greeted its setting up.

“We, therefore, must do all we can to justify this high level of the public confidence reposed in the committee.

“The committee is expected to among other things propose practical directions for my consideration and approval in order to complement the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).”

The council had on Tuesday appointed Suleiman Galadima, an ex-supreme court judge, as the new chairman of the committee.

Galadima replaced Ayo Salami, retired president of he court of appeal, who had earlier rejected the appointment.