At least five Nigerian high court judges are the subjects of extensive corruption probes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The five justices identified as the targets of the corruption investigation are Abdul Kafarati, Gladys Olotu, Aliyu Liman, Ibironke Harrison, and Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
In addition, the source who revealed this information said that: “Justice Chioma Nwosu- Iheme of the Federal Court of Appeal and a former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Inumidun Akande, are also caught up in the cross fire of the investigations.”
These corruption probing come barely a few moths After the Nigerian All Judges Conference held in Abuja, where UNODC assessed Nigeria’s track record over the last seven years in important areas, such as improving the quality of justice, especially for the poor, and strengthening integrity, accountability and independence in the judiciary.
At the conference it was found that Nigeria had taken bold steps to remove corrupt justice officials and staff and the country is now making strides in improving citizens’ access to justice.
The EFCC is an initiative that is helping reduce vulnerability to corruption, bad governance and poverty caused by greed for lucrative oil wealth and plough that money back where it is needed – in social and economic development programmes.
The EFCC was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering.
Nigeria being Africa’s biggest oil exporter, its natural resources make it particularly vulnerable to corruption.
However, the country’s anti-graft war is proving that there are no sacred cows left when it comes to tackling corruption and sends a strong message of hope across the continent and beyond.
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