NGO wants FG to establish special courts to try corruption cases

chika ebuzor

January 20, 2016 5:55 AM

The chairman also called for the imposition of sanctions barring corrupt government officials from holding public office for the remaining part of their life.

Muhammadu Buhari

Democratic Progressive Movement (DPM), an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to establish special courts to guarantee speedy prosecution of corruption cases in the country.

The National Chairman of the group, Rev. Collins Edebiri, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen at the end of an anti-corruption rally staged by the group.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that DPM is a non-partisan coalition of Nigerians, at home and abroad, formed to pressurise leaders at different levels of government to fast-track development of the country.

Edebiri said that the fight against corruption would be more successful when special courts were established and new laws enacted to ensure accelerated hearing of corruption-related cases.

He said: "we need to begin to think about laws that will set up special courts to deal with corruption cases. We need those special courts to start now.

"We are also calling on the National Assembly as a matter of urgency to enact law for the establishment of special anti-corruption courts.

"When you have special courts with special laws, then you will deal with these matters expeditiously.

"If we do that then we can fairly hear corruption cases expeditiously to ensure quick dispensation of justice,” he said.

He urged the government to recover all stolen funds and ensure that they were judiciously used for the development of those sectors that have direct impact on the masses.

chika ebuzor