Set up Anti-corruption Tribunal, APC Chieftain Tells Buhari

Onyebuchi Ezigbo A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s National Auditor, Chief George Muoghalu, has advised the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to consider the establishment of an anticorruption tribunal as part the tough measure aimed checking corrupt practices in the country.

While presenting a key note lecture at a one-day summit organised by the Buhari Presidential Grassroots Movement (BPGM) in Abuja, Muoghalu said the Special Public Corruption Tribunal will serve as a court of first instance for all cases of public corruption brought under the act.

He further advised that public corruption cases be moved from the high court system to allow for greater judicial independence.

Muoghalu, who made several other recommendations, suggested a minimum of five-year-jail term for those found guilty of corruption.

He said this would also ensure that the tribunal judges are able to deal exclusively with the cases of public corruption without being distracted by the myriad other cases on their dockets.

In addition, Muoghalu recommended the stipulation of a timeframe within which all cases institute by the prosecuting authority must be concluded.

“Public officials who abuse the trust of the citizens cannot be allowed to go on enjoying the fruits of their betrayal for years, contesting and winning elections and acquiring even more wealth whilst a criminal prosecution makes its way slowly and not at all steadily through the court system.

“There are EFCC prosecutions today that have been going through the trial processes for nearly a decade. Note, that in the event of an eventual successful prosecution, the defendants may very well choose to appeal the judgements, beginning another round of judicial rigmarole that may continue for another decade or more. This is not justice,” he said.

However, another discussant at the forum, a former member of the House of Representatives, Nduese Essien suggested that apart from strengthening anti graft institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC)and the Police, Buhari’s incoming administration should consider partnering with professionals bodies like the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), media owners and practitioners and labour movement to achieve maximum efrect.

Earlier the national Chairman of BPGM, Ambassador Jonathan Ikoroha had advised Buhari to do away with sycophants who come in the garb of aides and embrace well-intended patriotic individuals if he hope to succeed in government.