SDG Ambassador Warns Judges Against Undermining Anti-Corruption Efforts

The National Coordinator of the Presidency’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Council, Ambassador Timothy Nwachukwu has cautioned Nigerian judges against issuing frivolous court orders that hinder the fight against corruption.

His warning follows the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, over alleged corruption during his tenure from 1999 to 2007.

In a statement, Amb. Nwachukwu commended the Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law despite attempts to frustrate the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts.

He criticised judges who shield high-profile suspects through questionable rulings, warning that “such actions erode public trust in the judiciary and jeopardize Nigeria’s development.”

“Nigeria’s judiciary should be a pillar of justice, but some judges have turned it into a tool for corrupt individuals to evade accountability,” he said.

Amb. Nwachukwu urged judges to maintain integrity and ensure justice is served without bias, particularly in cases involving influential figures.

“The Supreme Court’s decision is a ray of hope, reinforcing that no one is above the law. However, lower courts must also refrain from granting orders that obstruct the anti-corruption war,” he added.

Amb. Nwachukwu praised the EFCC for its resilience and called on Nigerians to support anti-graft agencies by reporting corruption cases.

The legal dispute began in 2007 when Odili secured an injunction from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, preventing the EFCC from investigating him. The ruling, which had protected him for nearly two decades, was challenged by the EFCC since 2008.

With the Supreme Court’s latest ruling, the anti-graft agency can now proceed with its investigation.

Mercy Chukwudiebere