Nigeria targets 15 judges in fresh corruption probe

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

Nigeria has launched a fresh corruption probe into 15 judicial officers, including two top judges, the National Judicial Council (NJC) said in a statement on Monday.

News of the probe came in a statement following a NJC meeting, but did not name the probe’s targets.

It comes a few days after the council set up a panel of top judges and lawyers to monitor corruption cases in the courts, offer advice on the proceedings, and profile judges handling them to help revamp the corruption fight of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

In a televised address yesterday marking the 57th anniversary of Nigeria's independence, President Buhari insisted that corruption remains the country’s number one enemy, while acknowledging that the judiciary is now taking steps to join the crusade. To date he has criticized the judiciary for not joining his anti-corruption efforts.

The administration earlier this year targeted the judiciary in sting operations that netted over seven senior judges implicated for corruption. Some of the cases are still in court, while at least two of the judges have been freed.