Sagay: Without competent judiciary, we can kiss anti-corruption war goodbye

Itse Sagay, chairman, presidential advisory committee against corruption (PACAC), on Thursday said a competent judiciary is needed to attain success in the anti-corruption war of the federal government.

Sagay, who is also a constitutional lawyer, made the remark in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

The Lagos-based lawyer spoke on the backdrop of recent directives to judges by Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), during an event to mark the new legal year.

Sagay said the CJN should undertake an in-depth study of judicial officers, with a view to fishing out “bad eggs,” so as to give the war against corruption the needed push to succeed.

He noted that the war was multifaceted and requiring thorough work, while he also expressed optimism that the government would surmount every obstacle clogging the wheels of Justice.

“We are very concerned about the judiciary because without them, we simply kiss the anti corruption war goodbye; so we must have a competent judiciary otherwise, they will keep messing up corruption cases,” he said.

“A number of judges take decisions and interfere with ongoing corruption cases which in my view indicates their hostility for the anti corruption war.

“The government is very much aware of some of these practices but as you know, this is a law abiding government which believes so much in the rule of law and allows itself to be guided by it.

“I am optimistic that government will achieve victory in its war against corruption; so for the new Legal year, I urge the Chief Judge to look keenly at his officers and those who are found incompetent, should be eased out of the system.

“More so, if we can get the National Assembly to pass the Special Criminal Court bill into an Act, then, it will be settled that only qualified judges with “established” reputation for integrity, honour and honesty will be appointed there.”