Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN)
yesterday decried the low conviction rate
in high profile corruption cases, saying
there was still a long way to go.
He said since the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) was
established in 2002, only eight high
profile cases had been successfully
concluded despite of widespread
corruption.
According to him, of the eight cases, one
was overturned by the Supreme Court on
technical grounds, which means only
seven major convictions were secured
after trial in 13 years.
“We must do more. This is not a
campaign for conviction at all cost in
high profile cases, but a campaign that
the law must be allowed to follow its
course and high or low profile corruption
cases must be concluded within the time
allotted by law,” he said.
The Vice-President spoke at a workshop
on sections 306 & 396 of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act
(ACJA) 2015 and Delay of Corruption
Cases, organised by the Centre for Socio-
Legal Studies (CSLS) and the Presidential
Committee on Corruption (PAAC) in
Abuja.
Osinbajo, represented by PAAC Chairman
Prof Itsay Sagay (SAN), attributed the
delays to lawyers’ breach of ethical rules
to defend clients, overcrowded courts,
compromised judicial officers, ill-equipped
investigators and prosecutors, among
others.
“We will not build this nation as a citadel
of justice in one day or 1,000 days, but it
is important that we start now and we
shall not relent until we achieve total
reform and recovery from the present
broken and failed system,” he said.
He said the ACJA had provisions, which
ensure that impunity, private profiteers
and others who rob the nation was
brought to an end.
“We must meet the challenge of the
moment with the resolve to set up
standards for public and private sector
conduct guided by strong moral values,
but also backed by a legal system
strengthened to confront corruption,
remaining unflinching and impervious to
pressure to deliver anything less than
justice.
“I believe it is with this in mind that the
ACJA was passed. Early moves, including
the setting up of PAAC, show a
commitment on the part of the Federal
Government to fight corruption as a
priority by dealing with the systemic
problems involved in the administration
of justice as well as getting the best
minds working on short, medium and
long term solutions to this dreadful
malaise,” he said.
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)
Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the ACJA
came into force at a strategic period
when the government was determined to
fight corruption.
“There is no better time than now for this
law to come into force given the
determination of government to deal
holistically with crime and criminality in
our society,” he said.
According to him, besides enforcing the
law, which has provisions for speedy
determination of cases, anti-corruption
agencies will be strengthened.
Malami said: “The bane of the fight
against corruption in Nigeria is, therefore,
no longer connected to the inadequacy of
penal laws, sanctions, or lack of
institutional framework. Rather, attention
must now be directed to strengthening
the capacity of the enforcement agencies
to do well to apply this law to detect and
prosecute offenders.
“It is, in fact, only the guarantee and
certainty of detection, arrest, prosecution
and conviction that will indeed deter
potential corrupt individuals. The good
news is that the Muhammadu Buhari
administration is committed to the fight
against all forms of criminalities at all
times.”
Other speakers at the workshop included
Chief Judge of High Court of Federal
Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello;
CSLA President Prof. Yemi Akinseye-
George (SAN); PAAC Secretary Prof Bolaji
Owasanoye; Prof Fidelis Oditah (QC/
SAN); activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN);
Chief Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN), among
others.

http://thenationonlineng.net/osinbajo-decries-low-conviction-in-corruption-cases/

The Vice President should stop lamenting and look for means of sponsoring a bill that will help get these convictions in good time....He should look into it properly as an experienced man and do something now that he can before Nigerians booth him out.....action is what Nigerians want not talking.....
Ayodele Komolafe

K

You see...

Dey should start jailing this people sharp sharp.. all these adjournment of case, me nor like am

Somebody shud tell osinbajo that in a democratic system "you do not fight corruption by putting every accused person in jail for 200 years" GEJ


Dat is only possible in a military regim.


This is democracy! So fight corruption in line with the rule of law.

ayostatement:
The Vice President should stop lamenting and look for means of sponsoring a bill that will help get these convictions in good time....He should look into it properly as an experienced man and do something now that he can before Nigerians booth him out.....action is what Nigerians want not talking.....
Ayodele Komolafe

He should sponsor a bill? He is now a law maker or what? And what lamentation in what he said?

This is what happens when you fail to read the original post instead rush to comment.

pedrilo:
Somebody shud tell osinbajo that in a democratic system "you do not fight corruption by putting every accused person in jail for 200 years" GEJ


Dat is only possible in a military regim.


This is democracy! So fight corruption in line with the rule of law.

But you can jail them for one year after stealing say 21 billion and then let them enjoy their loot afterwards and even give them a state pardon ala Bode "agbaya" George.

Capital punishment should be mete out to the bastards. Didn't people also lose their lives due to the idiots not buying the arms they collected money for? Imagine if you brother died in the fight again boko haram? Will you say this trash?

This ppl are still lamenting and crying. Are they still the opposition or is this still campaign period? Are we going to continue getting this whining and complaining for the next 3 years ?





Check my signature for your total interior decoration solutions...

How could conviction be possible when the people handling those cases dines and whines with those to be convicted?

arsetalks:
He should sponsor a bill? He is now a law maker or what? And what lamentation in what he said?

This is what happens when you fail to read the original post instead rush to comment.

Anybody can sponsor a bill. Do you understand?

arsetalks:
But you can jail them for one year after stealing say 21 billion and then let them enjoy their loot afterwards and even give them a state pardon ala Bode "agbaya" George.

Capital punishment should be mete out to the bastards. Didn't people also lose their lives due to the idiots not buying the arms they collected money for? Imagine if you brother died in the fight again boko haram? Will you say this trash?

and am sure u will eat dis ur vomit if ur father is jailed without recourse to the rule of law.

pedrilo:
and am sure u will eat dis ur vomit if ur father is jailed without recourse to the rule of law.

Who said rule of law should not be followed? Point me to were I said that.

arsetalks:
Who said rule of law should not be followed? Point me to were I said that.

then why were u crying when I said osinbajo should be told that he can not throw perceived corrupt people in jail for 200 years without takin them to court?

Today is my birthday, so how many do I get?

Reasons for delays

represented by PAAC Chairman
Prof Itsay Sagay (SAN), attributed the
delays to lawyers’ breach of ethical rules
to defend clients, overcrowded courts,
compromised judicial officers, ill-equipped
investigators and prosecutors, among
others.

some solutions

“We must meet the challenge of the
moment with the resolve to set up
standards for public and private sector
conduct guided by strong moral values,
but also backed by a legal system
strengthened to confront corruption,
remaining unflinching and impervious to
pressure to deliver anything less than
justice.

our judicial system, must of necessity go through some reforms, if we are going to get any desired result

and somebody as corrupt as Tinubu is walking freely

k