West Africa: Judges Tasked on Economic Crimes

Judges from the English-speaking West African countries have been advised to unite in the fight against money laundering and all forms of economic crimes in the sub-region.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi, gave this advice at the opening of a three-day workshop for the judges, saying only a united effort can stop the laundering of illegally acquired money in the sub-region.

He warned that unless judges and the judiciary rid themselves of corruption, the evil consequences of money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes will continue to ravage Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

Represented by Justice Francis Tabai of the Supreme Court, Kutigi in his keynote address at the event organized by the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) said, judges' role in the efforts to combat terrorist financing, corruption and money laundering, which have far-reaching impact on the economy and political stability of countries where the cartels or syndicates operate cannot be overemphasized.

"For the judiciary to be able to do this effectively, judges must imbibe the ethos of judicial integrity and judicial independence. The judiciary should conduct its activities with the highest sense of responsibility and accountability because accountability is the anchor of integrity."

Kutigi urged West African governments to provide better protection for judges, particularly those handling cases of economic crimes, because their perpetrators are often vicious and deadly. "Perpetrators will go to any length to not only cover their tracks but also get rid of anything, institution, or individuals that constitute impediments to them he said .

In her goodwill message, President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Aminata Sanogo, commended GIABA for the initiative of organizing the seminar , saying it is necessary to provide judges who handle economic crimes with relevant information available at the workshop.

She lamented that globalization has widened the scope and sophistication of financial crimes to West Africa, maintaining that "our sub-region cannot afford the havoc that white collar crimes can cause to our economies and to our image ."

Director-General of GIABA, Abdullahi Shehu, said the seminar was organized to bring together judges involved in adjudication of financial crimes for them to share knowledge and experience, engender better understanding of the impact of money laundering in the region and to sensitize judicial partners on international developments.

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