Prominent human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu,, has sharply criticised the tendency of judges to publicly complain about unnamed attempts to corrupt them without taking concrete action.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Odinkalu stated:
*”This business of judges sitting in court to complain about unnamed people trying to corrupt them has to stop. Courts & judges have powers to deal firmly with such issues.
A judge who is unwilling to exercise such powers or to name the people or refer them to the #LPDC with full disclosure of relevant facts should simply keep quiet & stop making himself look compromised.”
Odinkalu’s comment comes in response to reports of Justice Emeka Nwite’s allegations during the ongoing money laundering trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Recall that the prosecution of Malami took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, alleged attempts to compromise him shortly after granting bail to the former AGF and his co-defendants.
Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, faces a 16-count money laundering charge alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe. The defendants are accused of laundering public funds totaling about N9 billion.
Shortly after granting N1.5 billion bail (N500 million each) to the defendants, Justice Nwite disclosed that he had been approached by some persons seeking a favourable decision. He warned:
“Before I conclude this proceeding, I want to admonish both parties and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of the fact that I am familiarising with you, when I am handling any case, please don’t approach me.
“The best you can do for your client is to get the best lawyer. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned.
“So, I want to warn each and every one of you, litigants and lawyers appearing before this court, that you should understand the way this court works. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Any attempt to try my leniency will be resisted and dealt with. I warn, I warn and I warn.”
As part of the bail conditions, the defendants must provide two sureties each for the bail sum, who must own landed properties in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The court also ordered the submission of property title documents for verification, surrender of international passports, submission of recent passport photographs by sureties, and an affidavit of means. The defendants are barred from travelling outside the country without court permission.
Justice Nwite did not name any specific individuals or lawyers involved in the alleged approaches.
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________
The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
