The Federal Government has commenced moves to transform the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) from its present quasi-judicial status into a full-fledged National Anti-Corruption Court with jurisdiction over corruption-related cases across the country.
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The proposed reform would significantly expand the mandate of the CCT, which presently adjudicates cases referred to it by the Code of Conduct Bureau involving alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, including asset-declaration violations and abuse of office for personal gain.
According to the Tribunal, its Chairman, Dr. Mainasara Kogo, is working with the National Assembly through the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on an Executive Bill that would provide the legal framework for the proposed transformation.
Acting Director of Litigation at the CCT, Yahaya Laraski, disclosed that the proposed National Anti-Corruption Court would operate as a full-fledged court with seven judicial divisions across Nigeria and would be empowered to try all corruption-related cases.
Under the proposed arrangement, the status of the Chairman would be aligned with that of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, while members of the Tribunal would have status comparable to judges of the Federal High Court.
The move forms part of a wider reform programme being pursued by the current leadership of the Tribunal following the appointment of Kogo as Chairman in January 2025.
The Tribunal disclosed that the current leadership inherited more than 1,037 pending cases, some of which had remained unresolved for between five and 10 years.
Kogo subsequently directed that the outstanding files be returned to the Code of Conduct Bureau for scrutiny to determine which cases should proceed before the Tribunal.
The CCT is also seeking to overhaul its procedural framework through new Practice Directions.
According to Laraski, the existing Practice Direction is outdated and does not adequately incorporate important provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act.
The proposed Practice Directions have been forwarded to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Supreme Court, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation for consideration.
The Tribunal said the reforms were also aimed at accelerating the disposal of cases. Under the current leadership, newly filed matters are expected to receive prompt attention, with the Chairman directing sittings shortly after cases are brought by the CCB.
It said that as of July 10, 2026, when the Tribunal commenced its annual vacation, there was no unattended case newly filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau remaining in its records.
However, the Tribunal identified its dependence on the CCB for the filing of cases as a major limitation, noting that it can only adjudicate matters brought before it by the Bureau.
It also complained of inadequate funding, saying its approximately ₦2 billion budget was rarely fully funded, while the Tribunal lacked sufficient official accommodation, vehicles, furniture, ICT equipment and resources for staff development.
The CCT further disclosed that two of three landed properties allegedly sold unlawfully had been recovered, including the official residence of the Chairman and its North-East zonal office in Bauchi.
Seven new departments have also been created in addition to the three previously existing departments, while outstanding staff promotions have been implemented, 13 new allowances introduced and staff members exposed to more than 20 streams of capacity-building programmes within one year.
If the proposed Executive Bill ultimately receives legislative approval, the reform would represent a major restructuring of the CCT, shifting it from a tribunal principally concerned with Code of Conduct violations into a nationwide court with a broader mandate to adjudicate corruption-related offences.
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