Nigeria's chief justice issues ultimatum to judges on corruption cases - In an action that may expedite pending corruption cases in Nigeria, the country's Chief Justice has issued a six-month ultimatum to judges handling such cases to dispense with them.
“I hereby strongly advise all Judges to accelerate the hearing of such cases and ensure that they are dispensed with within six months of filing,' Justice Dahiru Mustapha said at a lecture in the capital city of Abuja.

'If for any reason the prosecution is not ready to proceed with the case, then the matter should be struck out rather than leaving the public with the impression that the judiciary is not performing its necessary role in curbing corrupt practices in Nigeria. These delays cannot be tolerated any longer,” he said.

The Chief Justice added: 'I must make specific mention of the need for Judges to prioritise criminal matters bordering on official corruption that are placed before them. It has since been recognised that corruption is the bane of development in Nigeria. Therefore, it is imperative for all Judges to realise that these cases are extremely important to Nigerians and must be dispensed with swiftly.'

Cases, including those bothering on corruption, sometimes run for years in Nigeria's slow criminal justice system.

Pana 11/11/2011