The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, has called for constitutional provisions that set deadlines for prosecuting high-profile corruption cases involving politicians and prominent persons.

Aliyu made the call on Saturday during an appearance on Inside Sources, a Channels Television programme, where he said corruption cases should not be open-ended but concluded within specific timelines.

He said, “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us.

“Now, of course, there are those who will say, oh, well, Mr. President, you were there for eight years, you didn’t really kill it. But hey, at least he was right. And look, we’ve got to deal with this problem.”

Expanding on the need for constitutional reform, Aliyu said corruption trials could drag on for more than a decade without definite timelines.

He explained, “Initially I had the view that we don’t need special courts, but now when I have a second look at it, I look at some countries and I discovered that we need it.

“Why? Because you need a time frame to finish corruption cases.

“And unfortunately, our constitution, the way it was crafted, ensures that you cannot determine the time within which [they] can be finished unless it is stipulated in the constitution.

“Just like the issue of election petition, where I stated that it must be put 180 days at the trial.

“So this is one challenge, because if you keep on dragging corruption cases, it will take 10, 12, 15 years… Even the chairman of ICPC will have finished (his tenure).”