EFCC Shifts Anti Corruption War To Judiciary..Judges Under Investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday said more judges are under its watch list, with some facing investigation and others being charged for corruption.

Speaking to journalists at a news conference at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission in recent times had expedited action in prosecuting corrupt judges in the judiciary.

According to him, “the commission has in the past few weeks stepped up investigation into cases of alleged corruption in the judiciary. As we speak, some prominent judicial officers have been quizzed while others have been invited for interrogation.”

Uwujaren explained that “at this stage of investigation, it will be premature to state details as the charges are still mere allegations,” stressing that the facts and the judiciary officers involved would be made public “once prima facie cases have been established.”

According to him, “by the time we start mentioning names now, it will jeopardise our investigations. I crave your indulgence to exercise patience, whenever we are through with our investigations, we will get back to you. All I can say is that we have invited some and some will soon be invited,” he maintained.

He declined to comment on the position of the EFCC on the case of Justice Gladys Olotu who was recently retired as a judge as a result of gross misconduct. Uwujaren, at the briefing, informed journalists that though he had learnt of an injunction preventing the commission from arresting Olotu, but rather maintained that, the injunction will not stop the work of the commission.

“I learnt that there is an injunction, I have not seen it myself, what we are doing now is investigation, and I don’t think that order covers investigation and prosecution.”

While substantiating the facts regarding the recurring scandals rocking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Uwujaren said: “On the unremitted $20 billion, we are waiting for the National Assembly to conclude its investigations on the matter. The outcome of their investigations will shed more light on the exact figure that is missing. I appeal to you to be patient, once the National Assembly finishes their work, you can be rest assured that something will done.”