The Chief Justice is being asked to activate his powers to probe governors.

The CJN is empowered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act to raise an independent counsel to probe allegations against the President, Vice President, governors and deputy governors.

Seven governors have been implicated in the alleged diversion of the London-Paris Club refund effected by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also, Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje has been enmeshed in a controversy over alleged bribes from a contractor.

In a report to mark the Anti-Corruption Day, the Human Environmental Development Agenda(HEDA) spoke of corruption allegations against 47 former governors, 10 former ministers/ presidential advisers, three senators and two judges.

HEDA said Nigeria has about N2 trillion cases of corruption, including the $2 billion arms procurement case involving a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Despite the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC, there is a demand on the CJN to invoke his powers to hasten the investigation of governors with allegations of corruption.

Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution confers immunity on governors. They can only be investigated and their prosecution deferred till after their tenure.

But the CJN through his Senior Special Assistant to ( Legal/ Admin), Jane E. Edu, in a December 8 letter, said he would not usurp the roles of anti-graft agency.

The CJN said: “The Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that we respond to your letter with regret that he is unable to accede to your request to publicise and activate the provisions of the ICPC Act.

“Your concern for lack of awareness of the said provision of the Act is legitimate but certainly not His Lordship’s responsibility to publicize the provision of an Act which has a commission set up by law to give teeth to the provisions of the Act.

“The ICPC, EFCC, Ministry of Justice and all other agencies of government set up for this purpose, as well as other stakeholders like your good self have the responsibility to create awareness of the existence of such provisions of the Act.

“The particular provision of the Act under reference is quite clear as to the role of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Publicity is certainly not one of them.

“The role of the Judiciary in the fight against corruption is not lost on His Lordship but he will not usurp the roles of other arms of government and their agencies.

“Please be guided accordingly and accept the assurances of His Lordship.”

•Excerpted from The Nation report

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