President Muhammadu Buhari has accused the judiciary of not doing enough to support the fight against corruption.
Speaking on monday in Abuja at a workshop on the Role of the Judiciary in the Fight against Corruption organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, the National Judicial Institute (NJI), United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat, Buhari said the judiciary has not met public expectations in eradicating delays in the trial of criminal cases.
He said: “I am worried that the expectation of the public is yet to be met by the judiciary with regards to the removal of delays and the tolerance for delay tactics by lawyers.
“When cases are not concluded, the negative impression is given that crime pays.
“So far, the corruption cases filed by government are not progressing as speedily as they should in spite of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, essentially because the courts allow some lawyers to frustrate the reforms introduced by law.
“This certainly needs to change if we have to make a success of our collective effort in the fight against corruption.”
Athough he recognised the tremendous efforts the judiciary has made to foster justice and accountability in Nigeria, he used the occasion to remind the judiciary of the persistent challenges confronting the criminal justice system.