The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mahmud Mohammed, at the weekend appealed for thorough investigations by the security agencies into fraud and other criminal cases before they file charges against suspects.

In a statement through his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, the CJN, while receiving some officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in his office, admonished security agencies’ to adopt investigation-led arrest approach to prosecute offenders and not arrest-led investigation.

Justice Mohammed also complained about the filing of too many counts of charges against suspects.

“Judiciary is like a builder and works with materials that are brought to it”, adding that “materials necessary for construction must measure up to standard in order to be applied by the courts,” the CJN state.

He explained that “each count requires a witness or more,” adding that “In some cases, up to 200 counts are brought against an accused person which is a waste of court’s time and makes mockery of the constitution and the laws”.

Justice Mohammed disclosed that the Supreme Court had reviewed its practice to encourage quick prosecution of money laundering and fraud cases, raising hopes “that soon, Nigeria will become a major destination for the movement of capital and investment”.