Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud
Mohammed, at the weekend said the
judiciary has been properly positioned to
meet the challenges posed by the dynamics
of digital age.


The CJN spoke while playing host to some
members of the Nigeria Electronic Fraud
Forum, NEFF, led by Deputy Governor
(Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN, Alhaji Suleiman Barau.


The visit, according to Barau, was in
anticipation of increase in electronic fraud
attempts with imminent increase in
electronic payments in the country following
the take-off of the “Cash-less Lagos” pilot
project.


The CJN told the group that as a matter of
principle, the judiciary gives priority to fraud
or criminal cases, especially those brought
on appeal to the Supreme Court and the
Court of Appeal.



The problem associated with adjudication of
criminal cases, the CJN noted, was not
mainly in the courts, but outside of it.
“It is in the investigation, collection of
evidence, presentation of the cases and trial.
“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.


“Court cannot carry out investigation and
our security agencies must be encouraged
to carry out investigation-led arrest and not
arrested-led investigation,” he said.
The CJN further counselled that once
suspects are charged to courts, there should
not be too many counts of offences
(charges) as each count charge requires a
witness or more.


“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,” he added.


The CIN said most superior courts in the
country, including the Supreme Court, have
enacted practice directions on serious
crimes, including money laundering and
fraud, which should see cases being fast
tracked for trial and determination
“I wish to assure the Forum that the
judiciary will stand with the Banker’s
Committee in providing an effective solution
to electronic fraud and other ancillary issues.


“Indeed, it is our hope that soon Nigeria will
become a major destination for the
movement of capital investment,” the CJN
added
On his part, the CBN deputy governor stated
that; given the importance of providing
secure payment systems, whilst ensuring
public confidence in electronic means of
payment, the role of proactive fraud
management could not be overemphasised.


He said it was in this context and leveraging
on lessons learnt from past experience (e.g.
ATM magnetic stripe card frauds) that the
Nigeria e-Fraud Forum was established.
Barau disclosed that Payment System
industry losses have grown to over N4bn,
which give credence to the fact that e-fraud
has become an industry of its own.
The Forum, he said, recognises the role of
the judiciary as strategic partners in
stemming e-fraud.

Source : http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/judiciary-well-equipped-for-electronic-fraud-trials-cjn-tells-cbn/