Retired Justice Mustapha AkanbiFormer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi; and Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch, Mr. Rafiu Oyeyemi, have declared support for the establishment of special courts to try corruption cases.
The Federal Government is said to be making plans to establish special courts in each of the six geo-political zones in its bid to tackle corruption in the country.
Speaking in separate interviews with our correspondent in Ilorin on Wednesday, Akanbi and Oyeyemi said if well handled, the courts would quickly dispense of corruption matters. They added that the courts would boost the anti-graft campaign.
Akanbi, a retired President of the Court of Appeal, said it was important to appoint knowledgeable and men or women of integrity as the judges of such courts.
He added that the judges must be in support of the anti-graft crusade to realise the dream of checking corruption in the country.
He said it was also important that the special courts were not inferior to the regular courts to prevent convicted persons up-turning judgement at superior courts.
Akanbi said, "Having a special court is very important. But the point is: are they going to be new judges or old judges sent to the corruption courts to hear the matters? If they are new judges, will they be competent people who appreciate the underpinning philosophy of fighting corruption.
"Are they men of integrity? Or is that we just want to carve them out of the existing court? If it is like a tribunal thing, it is easy to go the court and kill it. If it is not a court of record, then it will be an inferior court. So they should look into these issues.
"It will be better if they have a set of judges from existing judges who have some experience in dealing with corruption matters. Or will they bring some new judges and start the court afresh? If is so, it will be difficult. The judges should have the experience, confidence and courage to be able to do the right thing."
Oyeyemi said, "We believe that it is a development in the right direction.
"It will help us to know that a certain court is dedicated to corruption matters. We are going to know the cause or reasons for any delay in court processes. We will know if there are other matters, or if some judges are delaying it or if the cause is from the law enforcement agencies, we will also know.
"We support the idea that there should be a certain court dedicated exclusively for corruption matters."
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