Why EFCC,ICPC Can't Prosecute Corrupt Politicians- Chief Justice

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed,recently made a statement explaining the reason for the failure of the nation’s anti-graft agency to ‘successfully’ prosecute high profile corruption cases.

Mohammed noted that the anti-graft commissions usually bring before the court cases having too many charges tied to them.

The Chief Justice explained that for a prosecution to be successful, the prosecuting agency must call more than one witness to testify on each count in the charge.

However, in the case where there are over 200 charges, it becomes nearly impossible to do a thorough job and get the desired result.

Mohammed said this over the weekend, when a delegation from the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum, NEFF, paid him a courtesy visit.

He further said: “It is in the investigation, collection of evidence, presentation of the cases and trial”.

He compared the Judiciary is like a builder, and works with materials that are brought to it. As such, the materials necessary for construction must measure up to standard in order to be applied by the courts.”

“Courts cannot carry out investigation and our security agencies must be encouraged to carry out investigation-led arrest and not arrest-led investigation.”

“In some cases up to 200 count charge are brought before the court which is a waste of court’s time and makes mockery of the constitution and the laws.”