President accuses lawyers and judges of shielding corrupt persons

monjola sotubo

November 24, 2015 10:44 AM

Buhari said further that judicial corruption was preventing the recovery of looted funds and stolen assets from guilty persons.

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that corrupt lawyers and judges in the country are frustrating his fight against corruption.

The president, speaking through Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, made the comments on Monday, November 23, 2015, at the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference in Abuja.

“Further on point of negative perception, there is both local and international dissatisfaction with the long delays in the trial process. In the past few years, this has become especially so for high-profile cases of corruption, especially where they involve serving or former political office holders,” Buhari said.

“As my lords are undoubtedly aware, corruption transfers from public coffers to private pockets, resources required to deliver social and economic justice. Government’s attempts to recover such assets in accordance with the law are often faced with dilatory tactics by lawyers sometimes with the apparent collusion of judges.

“These tactics are often not directed at reaching any conclusion or affirming innocence or guilt, but at stalling trials indefinitely, thus denying the state and the accused person the opportunity of a judicial verdict. I wish to echo the sentiments of the vast majority of Nigerians in saying that we cannot afford to continue on this path,” he added.

Buhari has said that his government will prosecute everyone found guilty of corruption, a sentiment that was also recently mirrored by Osinbajowho said that there would be no sacred cows in the anti-graft war.

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