Special courts to prosecute sundry tax evasion cases and official graft are to be set up by President- elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), it was gathered yesterday. The courts, which will be in the Federal Capital Territory, would deal strictly with corruption and tax evasion offences by companies, individuals and government officials.

The courts are expected to lift the burden of acute delay in trials of offenders by regular courts so that the next government can get fast results in its avowed war against corruption. Senator Aloysius Etok, Chairman of the Anti- Money Laundering and Cyber Security Coalition at the National Assembly, yesterday, revealed that the coalition of senators and members of the House of Representatives had already got the nod of the President-elect to set up the courts.

Etok expressed optimism that the courts, when established, will take off the burden of such cases from the regular courts and give them accelerated hearing.

“We are confident that these courts will give accelerated hearing to tax evasion cases and other cases bothering on corruption,” he said. Senator Etok disclosed that the National Assembly is probing about 115 tax offenders.

Besides, the lawmaker also revealed that senators in the course of investigations found that about 50 contracting firms working with the Federal Ministry of Works operate with forged tax certificates.