Justice Ayo Salami heads committee on corruption cases trial

Francesca Iwambe- Abuja

Though he was suspended for about two years by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and consequently attained mandatory retirement age during the period, former President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Ayo Salami, has bounced back.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, must have reasoned that the retired jurist still has something to offer the country.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) thus appointed Justice Salami as the head of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee, COTRIMCO.

Salami’s appointment, which was approved by the CJN, who doubles as chairman of the NJC, was part of the decision reached during the 82nd meeting of the Council in Abuja.

A statement issued by the NJC’s Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye and made available to The Daily Times revealed that the body, comprising 15 members will operate from the Council Secretariat.

The committee also has some judges and senior lawyers as members.

They include the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah; Chief Judge of Imo State Justice P.O. Nnadi; Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marsahal Umukoro and Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice M. L. Abimbola.

Others are the President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, former NBA President, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Mr. Joseph Daudu SAN, Mr. Augustine Alegeh ,SAN, and Dr. Garba Tetengi SAN.

Other members are the representative of NJC, Mrs. R.I Inga; representative of non-governmental organisations, representative of Ministry of Justice as well as the representative of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN.

The Committee is to regulate and monitoring proceedings at designated courts for financial and economic crimes nationwide; advise the CJN on how to eliminate delay in the trial of alleged corruption cases; give feedback to the Council on the progress of cases in the designated courts and conduct background checks on judges selected for the designated courts.

The Committee is also expected to evaluate the performance of the designated courts.
The Daily Times recalls that the CJN had in his speech at the Special Session of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to mark the commencement of 2017/2018 Legal Year, acknowledged concern expressed by members of the public on the snail speed with which corruption cases were heard and determined by the court.

The CJN consequently directed all heads of courts to compile and forward to the Council, comprehensive lists of all corruption and financial crime cases being handled by the various courts.

The CJN also directed them to designate in their various jurisdictions, one or more courts, as special courts solely for the purpose of hearing and speedily determining corruption and financial crimes cases.
The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal were also directed to fix special date in each week for hearing and determining appeals from such cases.

The Committee is expected to drive the Council’s new policy on anti-corruption war.