The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed on Monday, directed Judges handling corruption cases to commence day-to-day hearing of such matters in a bid to fast track trial of treasury looters.
Justice Mahmud said the National Judicial Council, NJC, would henceforth, sanction on any trial judge found to have stayed proceeding on any criminal matter before his court.
He made the declaration while flagging-off the 2016 Refresher Course for judicial officers on current trends in law and administration of justice,
He noted that the new directive is a result of mounting criticisms against the Judiciary.
The theme of the workshop which held at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja, is “Promoting Judicial Performance through Innovations and Reforms”.
While addressing Judges across who attended the event, Justice Mahmud said judges must learn to “treat cases related to economic crimes and corruption with the necessary urgency”.
He maintained that the essence of the newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, was to forestall situations where accused persons use frivolous interlocutory applications to frustrate their trial.
The CJN said: “My lords, as you all are well aware, the Judiciary has had to endure intense, largely unjustified and grossly uninformed criticisms regarding delay in the administration of justice”.
“The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crime and protection of the rights and interests of the suspect, the defendant and the victim”, he said.
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