President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced the process of identifying a few fearless and courageous judges who will be saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting persons who have been found to have stolen national resources, THE PUNCH has learnt.

Buhari had while granting audience to members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday disclosed that the prosecution of the indicted persons would commence in a matter of weeks.

“Those who have stolen the national wealth will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them,” the President had told his guests.

Our correspondent however learnt on Sunday that the prosecution would not be open to “just any judge.”

It was learnt that the President was committed to ensuring that only judges who would expedite action on the cases and would be fearless in discharging their duties would be enlisted for the prosecution.

A source confided in our correspondent that that was one of the assignments Buhari gave to the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption which he set up on Monday.

The source said it would not be necessary to set up special courts to try corruption cases since efforts were already underway to identify judges that would key into the President’s dream of ensuring that no looter was left unpunished.

He said, “We do not need to entertain any fear that the prosecution of corruption-related cases will not be fast enough because many of our courts are already weighed down by many cases.

“The truth of the matter is that not all judges will be considered to take up the cases of those who have stolen our commonwealth.

“As a matter of fact, one of the assignments the President gave the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption led by Prof. Sagay is to identify fearless and courageous judges that will handle the cases.

“The idea is to ensure that the judges who will handle the cases will not be just any judges. They must be those who will expedite actions on the cases and discharge their duties with courage.

“You can see that with this development, the issue of special courts for corruption cases may not come. It is about special judges.”

Our correspondent also gathered that Buhari was already considering withdrawing national honours from any individual found to have looted the nation’s treasury.

It was learnt that the President’s position was that the nation should not be seen to be honouring any fruadulent person.

“The President will not hesitate to strip any corrupt person of national honour. Can you honour a person for milking the nation dry? It is irrelevant how long such persons have been bestowed with the national honours, they will be stripped of them,” the source said.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said it was reasonable that anybody found to be corrupt should be stripped of national honours.

Adesina however said such withdrawal of national honours would not be done until affected persons had been convicted by competent courts.

“Although it has not been considered, it is reasonable that those found guilty of corruption should be stripped of national honours bestowed on them. However, this will not be done before conviction,” the presidential spokesman said.

While announcing the establishment of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption on Monday, Adesina had said its brief was to advise the present administration on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

He said the committee was also saddled with the responsibility of developing comprehensive interventions for achieving the recommended reforms.



http://www.punchng.com/news/buhari-seeks-fearless-judges-to-try-looters/

Bring them to book!

May the search go well

@least I'm rest assured that no money will be missing in the next 46 months. Should it happen, I'm confident it will be found.
I was tired already, $20B today, N68b tomorrow KILODE. But thank God for today sha, bye bye to yam and goat era.

I belong to everybody (masses) and belong to nobody (cabals) - PMB May 2015

Ghen ghen...shebi dem dey wail say baba too slow...dem go soon see action.

I no want cry of witch hunting o cos wen una dey cry say baba no get action, we no hear word that time

I've stopped taking PMB serious long ago.

When you handpick judges to handle your cases, won't they be bias in discharging their duties? Indirectly you are trying to become a judge in your case.

nnachukz:
When you handpick judges to handle your cases, won't they be bias in discharging their duties? Indirectly you are trying to become a judge in your case.

na raffle draw you want abi? Or nosepick?

Junk journalism!!! The presidency has no such powers to chose judges to try any case!! There is no such powers in our constitution which confers any such powers on the executive.

These propagandas by the APC and its media outlets are becomming sickening!!! This was exactly what Bishop Kukah was talking about!!!

Fearless judges? 4 naija? I doubt if dey exist! Na only "judge dredd" go fit help us sentence these gigantic thieves oh!

chukwudi44:
Junk journalism!!! The presidency has no such powers to chose judges to try any case!! There is no such powers in our constitution which confers any such powers on the executive.

These propagandas by the APC and its media outlets are becomming sickening!!! This was exactly what Bishop Kukah was talking about!!!

Everything is propaganda to you. Abeg learn to shut up o jare.

chukwudi44:
Junk journalism!!! The presidency has no such powers to chose judges to try any case!! There is no such powers in our constitution which confers any such powers on the executive.

These propagandas by the APC and its media outlets are becomming sickening!!! This was exactly what Bishop Kukah was talking about!!!

Shukwudi the chest beater. After making noise about how gej is untouchable we saw him running helter skelter looking for soft landing

Sai Baba BuBu

On a good day, judges default setting suppose be 'fearless'. #OnlyInNaija

nnachukz:
When you handpick judges to handle your cases, won't they be bias in discharging their duties? Indirectly you are trying to become a judge in your case.

Am glad he is not the one that's picking them. A COMMIITEE that spans all spectrums will be saddled with that responsibility. Let the show begin!!

I believe there are still a few incorruptible and fearless Nigerian judges. Root em out and let the trials begin! If you see none, abeg take Jega to be reading the final judgements and trials be conducted by a jury of judges put under strict security watch

Fearless judges cn only be found in old nd intending members of boko haram sect. Those tht are ready to die 4 wat they cal justice. I wish hm luck wth the search sha.

Fearless indeed

..............and Nigeria shall be great again

na you be coach, player and now REFEREE at the same time. This govt better be told that elections are over, enuf of these SICKENING propaganda. Wonder if there'll be any commissioning at 100 days ....sorry na still HONEYMOON

go ahead, we are in support sir

djjoad:
na you be coach, player and now REFEREE at the same time. This govt better be told that elections are over, enuf of these SICKENING propaganda. Wonder if there'll be any commissioning at 100 days ....sorry na still HONEYMOON

100 days of carefull preparation will be better than the immediate paste looting jamboree.dont you think

nnachukz:
When you handpick judges to handle your cases, won't they be bias in discharging their duties? Indirectly you are trying to become a judge in your case.

i believe he is seeking and hoping to find people with such calibre....he is not going to do the job for them...they will be given the free hand to do their jobs without external influence ....he hopes to find those who will not be bought over and fearless because of the nature of cases being handled.

Fearless judges indeed. Like the one who convicted and sentence Fela Kuti to prison in 1984 on controvercial charges of possessing foriegn currency (Monies Fela earned legitimately from international music tours), only for the judge to seek forgiveness months later that he was influenced by the authorities.

I'm solidly behind you sir in the fight against corruption and punishment for looters. I might nit be able to offer you support monetarily but I can promise you support through prayers.

God bless Nigeria
God bless President Buhari
God bless the fearless and incorruptible Judges


Thunder fire Apc and Pdp!

God Bless My Country.

At first he said he would bring in special courts
Later he put in place a legal big brother
Now he wants fearless judges
In all this he has neglected the strengthening of the Judiciary institution in its totality

abduljabbar4:

Shukwudi the chest beater. After making noise about how gej is untouchable we saw him running helter skelter looking for soft landing

The last time i checked GEJ is still free and enjoying his life while your cowardly and illiterate General is busy ranting in the media!!! What a show of cowardice

major466:
Fearless judges indeed. Like the one who convicted and sentence Fela Kuti to prison in 1984 on controvercial charges of possessing foriegn currency (Monies Fela earned legitimately from international music tours), only for the judge to seek forgiveness months later that he was influenced by the authorities.

Are you sure you are familiar with that case?