•We are open to new ways of fighting corruption –Sagay committee


MAJORITY of the judges nominated for probable appointment as heads of the proposed anti-corruption specialised courts failed the integrity test being conducted by security agencies, Nigerian Tribune learnt on Sunday evening.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the major criteria are that the nominee must be a bold judge that does not give sentimental judgments.

The judge must also have less judgments thrown out at the court of appeal.

One hundred judges selected from courts across
the country by the leadership of the judiciary were reportedly placed before security agencies for a deeper look into their stewardship, before the final pick for the sensitive assignment.

Thirty-seven specialised courts are reportedly being planned by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in all the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to solely and speedily try alleged looters.

An involved security source told the Nigerian Tribune that the assignment was yet to be concluded, because majority of those picked for screening failed the integrity test.

Those picked by the judiciary were said to have been carefully selected as the best of the pack.
The source further disclosed that fresh nominations had to be made for consideration, after majority of those initially provided could not scale the integrity hurdles.

The source added that the development had elongated the exercise because such delicate assignment must be conducted diligently, in order not to add to the problem which their appointment was meant to solve.

When asked about the statistics of performance, the source said though some of the nominees scaled the hurdle, a lot of them could not.
“You know what judiciary is like in Nigeria today. The entire place (judiciary) is in a complete mess,” the source said, though it could not say exactly when the screening exercise would end.

The source also faulted the comment credited to Professor Itse Sagay, head of the presidential advisory committee on anti-corruption war, calling on suspected looters to take the advantage of its existence to return stolen wealth in exchange for reduced punishment.

“Either Sagay or his committee cannot make such an offer. It is not within their power to do that. That can never be part of their brief,” the source added.
It said Sagay’s committee would do well by having an interface with anti-corruption bodies and other relevant security bodies in the country and know more about their workings before making any recommendations to the president.

When asked if such contact had been made by the committee, the source answered in the negative, though certain that the desired interface would still happen.

When the Nigerian Tribune contacted Sagay on the modalities and the call by Nigerians for an unconventional method for fighting corruption, he said the committee was open to suggestions that would effectively tackle corruption.

On the call for the involvement of other professional bodies and prosecuting looters more on tax evasion on illegally-acquired properties, Sagay welcomed the idea as long as it would take care of looters and their activities.

He was, however, silent on whether such propositions were included in his committee’s framework.

http://tribuneonlineng.com/looters%E2%80%99-special-court-nominee-judges-fail-integrity-test

Since everybody is failing integrity test in Nigeria, let buhari be the president, minister and judge too naa.

What kind of nonsense is this sef? Are all Nigerians daft?

Saint buhari indeed.

Buhari should man all the courts since he is the only Nigerian with integrity...

LongPennis:
Since everybody is failing integrity test in Nigeria, let buhari be the president, minister and judge too naa.
What kind of nonsense is this sef? Are all Nigerians daft?
Saint buhari indeed.

Vicadonis:
Buhari should man all the courts since he is the only Nigerian with integrity...

Since everybody is failing integrity test i wonder who will be clean/saint enough to work with PMB, am beginning to see the so called "integrity" test as ploy to give nigerians excuses for non performance...SMH

Ds is bad ooo,every system in Nigeria is corrupt

This is a welcome idea. we need a judge dat would deliver irrespective of the political party d looters belong to.

This is quite a shame. If the judges that are supposed to be upright and uphold the law are not trustworthy and have no integrity, then we have to be worried. I hope the best hands are picked for this delicate position.

Buhari wants his special courts to be no different than his military tribunals which did not conduct any trial but was A sentencing court for those arraigned before it.

Welcome back to 1984 all over again.


If Buhari is serious on fighting corruption and not witch hunting opponents he will know that only a thorough investigation yielding solid facts backed by a competent team of prosecutors who can prove beyond doubt that a crime was committed in a court of law is what is needed most as this will also serve to unravel and prevent such crimes from being perpetuated in future.


All I see here is a despotic man bent on throwing any opposition figure into jail to make way for absolute rule.

Mannylex:
This is quite a shame. If the judges that are supposed to be upright and uphold the law are not trustworthy and have no integrity, then we have to be worried. I hope the best hands are picked for this delicate position.

The committee also used the criteria that judges whose rulings were dismissed by the appellant court were also disqualified.

That means that even where a judge hands down a conviction it isn't ok unless the appeals court vets the same judgement.

Isn't that indicative that Buhari is searching for judges he knows will give him a conviction only which thus implies that Buhari believes that those to be arraigned in future are guilty even before being tried?


This man will destroy not only our democracy but also the courts.

PMB should head the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary........seems he's the only one that can't fail the integrity test in Nigeria.

simeonii:
PMB should head the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary........seems he's the only one that can't fail the integrity test in Nigeria.

Baba clean slate(the only honest man in nigeria)...

simeonii:
PMB should head the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary........seems he's the only one that can't fail the integrity test in Nigeria.

This how people slowly lose their freedom by putting too much power and hope on a mortal man.


George Washington was asked after emerging from the first US legislative assembly on what type of govt they had resolved to use in the newly independent state, he simply replied; " a republic. That is if you can keep it so!"

It was the silly plebs of ancient Rome that demanded that Ceaser be made an emperor. His assassination at the hands of senators hoping to thwart his ascension to be emperor of Rome marked the death of democracy in Rome.

LongPennis:
Since everybody is failing integrity test in Nigeria, let buhari be the president, minister and judge too naa.

What kind of nonsense is this sef? Are all Nigerians daft?

Saint buhari indeed.

Tomorrow if you hear that someone that stole 50billion is ask to pay a fine of 700million or be jailed for 7years.. You will be the first to come online to shout fowl.
Its a known fact that our judiciary is corrupt... Always exchanging millions of naira before passing judgement
Where they not the one that dismiss iboru case.... Same ibori that pleaded guilty when tried by a competent court.
Can u compare court proceedings in Asian countries to that of Nigeria? Their stance on drug knows no one or respect any

BishopMagic:



This how people slowly lose their freedom by putting too much power and hope on a mortal man.

George Washington was asked after emerging from the first US legislative assembly on what type of govt they had resolved to use in the newly independent state, he simply replied; " a republic. That is if you can keep it so!"

It was the silly plebs of ancient Rome that demanded that Ceaser be made an emperor. His assassination at the hands of senators hoping to thwart his ascension to be emperor of Rome marked the death of democracy in Rome.

My respect, @ d bolded.....

BishopMagic:
Buhari wants his special courts to be no different than his military tribunals which did not conduct any trial but was A sentencing court for those arraigned before it.

Welcome back to 1984 all over again.


If Buhari is serious on fighting corruption and not witch hunting opponents he will know that only a thorough investigation yielding solid facts backed by a competent team of prosecutors who can prove beyond doubt that a crime was committed in a court of law is what is needed most as this will also serve to unravel and prevent such crimes from being perpetuated in future.


All I see here is a despotic man bent on throwing any opposition figure into jail to make way for absolute rule.

after all this ranting oya go and read the post, then comeback and comment.

AlPeter:


after all this ranting oya go and read the post, then comeback and comment.

Slave stop quoting me.

Is Sagay himself 'holy'

Exercise in futility, Buhari lacks the power to set up any special courts. The constitution would first have to be amended to accommodate that.

It would require 2/3 of both arms of the NASS which we know is impossible

Corruption exist in the blood of an average Nigerian. Taking advantage of others.

What do you call this

You buy goods @ 50 Naira, you keep same to sell at 500 Naira to make how many percent profit You even create artificial scarcity to the detriment of the people.

That is corruption.

This administration needs only to draw a line, otherwise, we are going nowhere.

h

dullard will spend his 4years probing the wind . while the real business of governance suffers

BishopMagic:


The committee also used the criteria that judges whose rulings were dismissed by the appellant court were also disqualified.

That means that even where a judge hands down a conviction it isn't ok unless the appeals court vets the same judgement.

Isn't that indicative that Buhari is searching for judges he knows will give him a conviction only which thus implies that Buhari believes that those to be arraigned in future are guilty even before being tried?


This man will destroy not only our democracy but also the courts.

That committee has no powers to select or screen Judges,Only the national judicial council is empowered to do such. Am suprised a constitutional lawyer and SAN would be part of such frivolity

chukwudi44:
Exercise in futility, Buhari lacks the power to set up any special courts. The constitution would first have to be amended to accommodate that.

It would require 2/3 of both arms of the NASS which we know is impossible

Can you reference any constitution sections on court creation.

Thnks.

Nigeria is a joke

rozayx5:
dullard will spend his 4years probing the wind . while the real business of governance suffers

He would soon be made to realize the the limits of his powers

chukwudi44:

That committee has no powers to select or screen Judges,Only the national judicial council is empowered to do such. Am suprised a constitutional lawyer and SAN would be part of such frivolity

You are very right.

APC maggots think we are in 1984

fitzmayowa:
Since everybody is failing integrity test i wonder who will be clean/saint enough to work with PMB, am beginning to see the so called "integrity" test as ploy to give nigerians excuses for non performance...SMH

pls, where is the non performance?

Is that the point here? If it is, then there is no non performance. Even without ministers, buhari has outperformed Jonathan in many ways.

Must he appoint your corrupt fathers by force?

Why the tears sef?

WHOEVER COMES TO EQUITY,MUST COME WITH CLEAN HANDS.S
SELECTION OF THOSE TO CHAIR THE ANTI GRAFT MUST BE STAINLESS

NB
NAIRALANDERS..TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY...SHOW ME LUV.....