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Is the EFCC Turning the Spotlight on the Judiciary?

By on September 17, 2012

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has unveiled plans to arrest and try corrupt members of the Nigerian judiciary in what analysts are referring to as a positive new development.

The Nigerian judiciary routinely engages directly or indirectly in grand corruption, however the anti-corruption emphasis has never fallen on the learned silk. EFCC officials usually prosecute corrupt Nigerian elite, who in turn bribe the judges and get their cases thrown out of court.

One popular happenstance was the case of Peter Odili, the former Governor of Rivers State who is reported to have looted over N160 billion, and has fallen off the map since the end of his tenure in 2007.
The EFCC was keen on prosecuting and convicting Peter Odili, that is until he ran to a friendly judge and obtained a perpetual injuction restraining the Nigerian government and people from punishing him for grand looting.

Another popular case was James Ibori who was severally acquitted by Nigerian courts, but later convicted by a British Judge and is currently serving time in London.

According to inside sources at the EFCC, several high court judges are under investigation and will soon be charged for corruption. The EFCC is said to have damaging financial evidence against the judges, probably a case of bribe taking in other to subvert the natural course of justice.

As the Nigerian people await more details as to who the culprits are, the EFCC needs to be strengthened and encouraged by the Federal Government to continue to bring the enemies of our commonwealth to real justice.