The Katsina Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, has told the state’s anti-corruption agency to be thorough in its work and assured of readiness to designate a special court to try corruption-related cases in the state.
The court, according to him, will be fully equipped with an electronic evidence presentation system from arrest to interrogation and collection of evidence to achieve the desired objective.
Abubakar disclosed this on Thursday when he received members of the newly established Katsina State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission on a familiarisation tour in his office at the Katsina High Court.
“There’s corruption all over the land, and you have an additional task of listening to public complainants, particularly against public officials. You have a responsibility to check corruption even if it’s in high places. Probably, only the governor and his deputy have immunity now and not even their families.
“As Muslims, when it comes to justice and equity, no exception. We are going to be in serious collaboration with you. Now it is the technology age, you are lucky you are beginning, I want you to base all your operations on computer technology (ICT).
“Our biggest problem before many cases is evidence presentation in court. No matter how good a case is, if there is no or weak evidence, you will see a murderer escaping. So, base all your operations on the computer right from the arrest, interrogation, and collection of evidence.
“Corruption is a chain if you don’t support it, it will not go. There are even some businessmen ready to support corrupt government officials, they are all guilty, and you should get them. Do not go after civil servants alone, get contractors who found one thing. Don’t allow anybody to go scout-free.
“I will designate a special anti-corruption court. The court will not do anything other than corruption cases. The court will be equipped with an electronic evidence presentation system.
“The journalists have their own part in facilitating corruption with some covering the corrupt officials for whatever reason. In every profession, there are good and bad eggs, unless you support the commission, it will not succeed,” he added.
Earlier in his address, the chairman of the commission Justice Lawal Garba (Rtd) who led other members of the commission to pay the visit, said they were at the office of the State Chief Judge to seek his support, guidance, assistance, and direction to achieve the desired objective.
“In the whole cadre of the judiciary today in Katsina State, it’s on the record that no judge has started from the grassroots and attained your experience – you started from the magistrate to chief magistrate, to chief registrar to judge and to the chief judge,” he noted.
The Commission’s delegation also paid a similar visit to the Katsina State Commissioner for Justice, Fadila Dikko, where she pledged to collaborate and give necessary support to the commission.
“Corruption in the country has become eaten deep, So you can count on our support. However, all hands must be on deck to fight corruption. You are all aware that, the commission is under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice, so we are partners,” the commissioner said.
The anti-graft commission was established in late 2023 to stem the tide of corruption in the state. It was inaugurated in January.
