Crime

Rights group petitions ICPC over allegations against ex- CJN

Out-gone Chief Justice Tanko

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Center) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations against the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Olanrewaju Suraju Chairman, HEDA, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.

Suraju, in a letter to the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, urged the Commission to stand tall over the allegations of corruption, maladministration and incompetence levelled against Tanko recently by his brother Justices of the Supreme Court.

“As a leading Anti-Corruption Organization in Nigeria and Non-partisan human rights and development league, we call on ICPC to commence investigation into the budgetary allocation, utilization and development process of the judiciary with a view to sanitization of that critical arm of government,” HEDA said.

The statement recalled that on June 21, it was widely reported that the immediate past CJN responded to the allegations brought against him by 14 Justices on the aforementioned allegations.

“It is unarguable that the Judiciary is the last hope of the helpless and its Judges are only meant to be heard and not seen.

“However, these allegations made by fellow Justices of the apex Court against the CJN cannot be overlooked as it is weighty and must be diligently investigated by the Commission in order protect that vital institution.

“If the Supreme Court of Nigeria is infested with corrupt persons, then our democracy is doomed, ICPC and other relevant bodies should rise and act fast to redeem the temple of Justice from possible collapse,” the release stated.