The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday, said the delay in the trials of corruption cases in the country was because of the lack of political will to prosecute high profile corruption cases, especially those involving politically exposed persons or political party family members.

The CJN said this during a meeting with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, alongside other Justices of the Supreme Court and the heads of Federal Courts held at the CJN’s conference room, recently.

A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the CJN’s media aide, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, quoted the CJN as saying that, “experience within the judiciary shows that there is abject lack of political will to prosecute some of those cases pending before our various courts almost a decade in some instances.

“It is not because there are no special courts, but mostly for reasons of political expedience and other ancillary considerations.

“I would likewise wish to encourage you (AGF) to display a greater resolve than your predecessors in tackling outstanding cases before the courts.

“In times past, the AGF would often lead teams of legal counsel in high profile cases so as to demonstrate the resolve of the government to enshrine the rule of law.

“Sadly, recent AGFs have become less inclined to do this. I would certainly like to see you, as the AGF, to appear before us, especially in cases of important national issues,” the CJN added.

On the issue of judicial funding, Justice Mohammed said the Judiciary welcomed the idea of zero budgeting as against the incremental style budgeting that often resulted in insufficient resources for the judiciary to operate.

According to him, the judiciary could now properly make its demand before the National Assembly for an appropriate budgetary figure, rather than proposing N150 billion and be appropriated with less than half of it. (Nigerian Tribune)

•Photo shows CJN Mahmud Mohammed.

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