It is incumbent that government commits to fully execute the apex court judgment and ensure that the convict refunds the N22.9bn that he misappropriated. Additionally, Justice Abubakar said the plea bargain at the High Court and the ruling of the judge were not only bizarre and embarrassing but also ridiculous and unacceptable. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Yusuf before the FCT High Court in 2016, where he admitted committing the fraud and subsequently entered into a plea bargain with the anti-graft agency. The overall effect is that ordinary Nigerians might see the government’s anti-graft campaign as being on the course, albeit unsteadily. Therefore, there is a need for speedy trials so that the saying in legal parlance that justice delayed is justice denied should not arise.

Source: The Guardian May 15, 2022 16:06 UTC