The chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Thursday said prosecution of cases is the most critical in the fight against corruption.
Director, Public Enlightenment and Education/Spokesperson for the commission, Demola Bakare, in a press statement, Thursday, in Abuja, said Dr. Aliyu stated this while delivering a welcome address at a Capacity Building Workshop for Judges on the Promotion of Public Policy and Interest of Justice in the Prosecution of Corruption Cases and Other Related Offences, organised by the ICPC in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
The ICPC boss said investigation and prosecution of cases are pivotal to achieving success in anti-corruption efforts, adding that the perception of the ordinary man on the street is tied to trial of cases in courts and the recoveries of proceeds of corruption.
“The investigation and prosecution mandate of the commission is very critical in the fight against corruption, especially the prosecution of cases in court, which is part of the enforcement process. This prosecution of cases is the most critical in the fight against corruption as the perception of the ordinary man in the street is tied to the trial of cases in court and recoveries of looted funds,” he emphasised.
He said Dr. Aliyu seized opportunity to draw the attention of the judges on the need to integrate technology into trial of cases, revealing that “in the fight against corruption globally and in the trial of cases, new case management systems are being innovated for an effective and efficient justice delivery system.”
The anti-graft agency boss said, “the new norm now is the admissibility of electronically generated evidence and the introduction of technology in the administration of justice in our judicial system”.
The chairman also told the judges that the workshop was necessary, as the justice sector remained the fulcrum of concern in the fight against corruption.
“The justice sector remains a focal point of concern, particularly regarding bribery involving stakeholders in the justice sector,” he further stated.