By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
The Zone "C" Sub-Committee of Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) says sanction awaits Judges who fail to submit their Quarterly Returns.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COTRIMCO was set up by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Sylvester Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, JSC RTD, OFR, to monitor cases in Courts and interact with the designated Judges handling corruption and financial crimes cases following continuous complaints from the Nigerian public that the Judiciary was responsible for the delays in the trial of corruption and financial crimes cases.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Zone ‘C’, Sub-Committee of COTRIMCO which comprises all Southern states of Nigeria.
The Sub-Committee informed the designated Judges that there was a need for them to quarterly submit their returns with strict adherence to the template submitted to them as the submitted returns would be assessed quarterly by the Committee at the plenary.
NAN reports that the Sub-Committee has Justice Munta Abimbola (Chairman), Onah Isaac Owoka, Esq, as Secretary, Dr Garba Tetengi, SAN, Mr A. Mahmoud, SAN as Members, Soji Oye, Esq. Director of Information, National Judicial Council and other staff of the NJC.
The Sub-Committee was on tour to five (5) of the States in the Zone in view of accusations by the public that the Judiciary was responsible for the delays in the trial of corruption and financial crimes cases.
In the course of the visit, the Sub-Committee interreacted with the designated Judges handling corruption and financial crimes cases on the reason for the delays.
On their findings, the panel said Members received complaints of insufficient Prosecution Counsel from the EFCC as 10 prosecutors covered the Five States visited in the Zone.
The Panel also said it found out that handwriting experts were scarce.
“The judges also complained that witnesses, exhibits, number of SANs that are usually briefed to represent the accused in corruption and financial crimes cases do not help matters,” it stated.
The Panel further said in a nutshell that it observed that delays in such cases were caused by all parties involved in the prosecution of the cases.
The panel called for synergy among parties that is, the Judges and the Prosecution.
The Panel assured the Judges that the issues they raised would be brought before the plenary of the general Committee for consideration.
(NAN)
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