By our Reporter
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has urged for constitutional reforms that would set strict deadlines for prosecuting high-profile corruption cases.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources on Saturday, Aliyu stressed that corruption trials involving politicians and influential figures should not drag on indefinitely but be concluded within specific timelines.
“If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us,” he said, noting that cases sometimes linger for over a decade without resolution.
Aliyu, who previously opposed the creation of special courts, said he now supports the idea after reviewing practices in other countries. According to him, special courts with constitutional timeframes similar to the 180-day limit for election petitions are necessary to ensure swift justice in corruption matters.
“The way our constitution is crafted, you cannot determine when a corruption case will end unless it is clearly stipulated. That’s why some cases stretch for 10, 12, even 15 years—sometimes outlasting the tenure of an ICPC chairman,” he explained.
On the Supreme Court ruling granting full autonomy to local governments, Aliyu admitted that political interference continues to hinder implementation despite the clear judicial decision.
