USE OF SHARI’A COURT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper assesses the possibility of prosecuting Muslim corrupt public officials before Shari’a Courts instead of conventional courts. This is because technicality, cumbersome procedure and undue delay have characterized the conventional courts, and such led to frustration and acquittal of many corrupt Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), largely on technical grounds. This is despite series of legislations, rules, regulations and policies introduced by government to fight corruption. Corruption has been resilient and still remains the major bottleneck that hinders the country to achieve its fundamental objectives; which causes Nigeria to be consistently ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world. The aim of the paper is to identify whether Shari’a courts as they are now could effectively be used to fight corruption and other corrupt related offences, having the conventional methods of fight against corruption failed to effectively curb corruption in the country. The paper adopts doctrinal research methodology. The major finding of this paper is that prosecuting Muslim corrupt PEPs and other public officials before the existing Shari’a Court in Northern Nigeria would not make any difference; this is because all the bottlenecks that exist in the conventional courts do also exist in the Shari’a courts of Northern Nigeria. Hence, it is recommended that to tackle corruption, government should strengthen the Anti – Corruption Agencies, review the procedure of nomination and appointing judges and ensure adequate public enlightenment against corruption. Above all, to curb corruption in this country, every citizen needs to be patriotic and converts himself to anti-corruption crusader.