The National Judicial Council (NJC) under the chairmanship of the Chief
Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen,
has picked a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Mr.
Suleiman Galadima, as the new chairman of the Corruption and
Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO).
He is to replace Hon. Justice Mr. Ayo Salami (retired) who excused
himself from the committee as the chairman, after initially accepting to
serve.
According to NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye, the committee will be inaugurated on Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 by Hon. Justice Mr. Onnoghen, at the Council’s Conference Hall by 2pm.
Hon. Justice Mr. Galadima, was born October 1946 in Nasarawa State.
He attended Government College Keffi where he obtained the West Africa
School Certificate in 1965 before he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello
University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law in 1977 and was
called to the Bar after he graduated from the Nigerian Law School in
1978.
He later received a master’s degree in Law from the University of Jos in
1985.
He joined the Anambra State Judiciary as Magistrate on July 1988 and in
1990, he was appointed as Attorney General and the Commissioner for
Justice, Plateau state. On May 1991, he became the High Court Judge of
Plateau State. At the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996, he was
appointed as its pioneer Chief Judge of the State.
On December 9, 1998, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal and on
August 2010, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He retired on October 10, 2016, at the mandatory retirement age of 70
years.
Hon. Justice Mr. Galadima is famous for his leading judgement in Shina
Oketaolegun Vs. State, SC. 334A/2012, wherein he held that the Court of
Appeal correctly reviewed the evidence led by both the prosecution and
the defence in which he agreed that the evidence of one credible witness
can justify conviction.
The Committee is made up of:
Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, CFR. – Chairman
Hon. Justice Kashim Zannah (OFR), Chief Judge, Borno State
Hon. Justice P.O. Nnadi, Chief Judge, Imo State
Hon. Justice Marsahal Umukoro, Chief Judge Delta State
Hon. Justice M. L. Abimbola, Chief Judge, Oyo State
Mr. A.B Mahmoud OON, SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association,
Chief Wole Olanipekun OFR SAN, Former NBA President
Mr. Olisa Agbakoba OON SAN,
Mr. J.B Daudu SAN,
Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN,
Dr. Garba Tetengi SAN, Member, NJC
Mrs. R.I Inga
Mrs. Hajara Yusuf
Representative, Ministry of Justice
Alhaji Kabiru Alkali Mohammed, mni, Representative, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Olanrewaju Sirajo, Representative, Non-Governmental Organisations
Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Esq, Secretary, NJC – Secretary
It would be recalled that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, in response
to the concern expressed by members of the public on the every slow
speed with which corruption cases were being heard and disposed of by
Courts, and the need to fast track the administration of Criminal
Justice, directed the Heads of Court to set up Special Courts to
speedily hear and determine corruption and financial crime cases and
forward the comprehensive list to the Council.
Council approved the constitution of the Committee at its 82nd Meeting
of 27th September, 2017 with the following Terms of Reference:-
i). To monitor and regularly evaluate the progress and activities of
courts designated to try corruption an financial/economic crime cases;
ii). Advise on Practice Directions for approval by the Chief Justice
of Nigeria to be applicable in all such courts across the
country with a view to eliminating procedural and administrative
bottlenecks militating against speedy disposal of such cases;
iii). Advise on the trainings, re-trainings and other refresher
programmes for Judges and staff of the designated courts aimed at
enhancing their capacities to function effectively;
iv). Come up with an effective feedback mechanism from Heads of Courts
to the Council on the activities and progress of cases before designated
courts;
V). Generally advise Council on the day-to-day strategies for the
monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the designated courts
and on strategies for improvement in performance.
