CCT Proposes National Anti-Corruption Court in Nigeria

On September 8, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) announced a proposal to convert into a National Anti-Corruption Court, pending approval from the National Assembly. This initiative aims to replace the current tribunal with a specialized court dedicated solely to corruption and related offenses, utilizing a fast-track judicial process.

The proposed court would feature 37 judges across seven judicial divisions, allowing for broader jurisdiction over corruption cases initiated by various anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Yahaya Laraski, the Acting Director of Litigation at the CCT, stated that the new court would implement a summary trial system, requiring all cases to be resolved within six weeks from arraignment.

This reform seeks to address the significant delays often seen in high-profile corruption trials. Additionally, the CCT reported recovering two of its three illegally sold estate properties under its current leadership.