BILLIONAIRE JUDGES - CSNAC CALLS ON JUDICIAL OFFICER TO DECLARE THEIR ASSETS

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations, today urged judicial officers in the country to declare their assets with evidence of legitimate means of acquisition.

In a statement, the group commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the “historic investigation” into the assets, investments and leadership of some of the judges, as disclosed recently by an online report.  It noted that its own independent investigations and complaints from the public have revealed the opulent lives of many judicial officers and huge amount of monies in banks and personal properties both in and outside the country.

“While they are not prohibited from doing do so, it has become necessary, in the face of overwhelming allegations of corruption and compromise in the judiciary, for these judicial officers to declare their assets with evidence of legitimate means of acquisition.”

CSNAC noted that in the 2012 Country reports on Human rights practices (www. Humanrights.gov) submitted to the United States Congress in April 2013 the Nigerian Judiciary was clearly implicated in a review of the state of corruption in Nigeria.

“The report further posited that Nigerian Judiciary appears to be an accessory to systemic problem of corruption facing the country. It, rightly so, opined that there is a widespread perception that judges are easily bribed and litigants hardly rely on the courts to render impartial judgments. Citizens are said to encounter delays and alleged demand for bribe from judicial officials, to expedite cases or obtain favourable rulings,” it recalled

CSNAC described the consistent implication and involvement of judges in acts of corruption as marking the beginning of a doomed society. 

“The Code of Conduct Act For Public Officers, fifth schedule, constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, under section 11 (1-3) provides that all public officers immediately after taking office and thereafter at the end of every four years and at their retirement make declaration of their assets,” it reminded.  “In addition Rule 3E(2)(a)-(c) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for the prohibition of otherwise permissible investments or business activities of Judicial officers where they tend to reflect adversely to judicial impartiality.”