During the Valedictory Court Session organized to mark his retirement from the bench after 33 years career as a judge, the outgoing Justice of Nigeria (NJC), Justice Dahiru Musdapher lamented over the slow pace of investigation and prosecution of cases in the country as a key part of what makes the country’s legal system to continually lag behind in comparison to other countries, a phenomenon which has made it easy for corruption to spread at will.
Among other issues, he indicated things such as huge expenses, to investigate crime and the number of charges filed by anti corruption agencies which make it cumbersome to prosecute might be part of the reasons for the slow pace of investigation and prosecution of such cases in Nigeria. And to buttress his point, the justice cited the recent trial of former Governor James Ibori in the UK and said his investigation alone cost the British taxpayers £14 million (about N3.6billion).
During the event, which was organized by the Supreme Court the numerous dignitaries present poured praises on the justice. senior lawyers in the country that were present at the occasion had some beautiful things to say about him. According to the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu (SAN), Justice Musdapher’s tenure was “the most vibrant and reform oriented in recent times.”
The former Justice, who described himself as fulfilled man, was called to the Nigerian Bar as a lawyer in 1968. His retirement takes effect from Sunday, 15th July, 2012 when he turns 70 years.
