Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has decried the low conviction rate in high profile corruption cases in Nigeria, saying that since the inception of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2002, only eight high profile cases have been successfully concluded despite widespread corruption in the country.
Osinbajo said this at a workshop on sections 306 & 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Delay of Corruption Cases, organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) and the Presidential Committee on Corruption (PAAC) in Abuja yesterday December 9. Osinbajo was represented by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN).
He said of the eight cases that have been concluded, one was overturned by the Supreme Court on technical grounds, which implies that only seven major convictions have been secured after trial in 13 years.
“We must do more. This is not a campaign for conviction at all cost in high profile cases, but a campaign that the law must be allowed to follow its course and high or low profile corruption cases must be concluded within the time allotted by law,” he said.