DSS releases suspects, tightens noose around others
Anxiety as NJC meets today Arrests regrettable – CJN I’m vindicated – Wada
By Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Vivian Okejeme and Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
As the arrested judges got a reprieve yesterday following their release by the Department of State Service, there are strong indications that courts nationwide may be forced to shut down if the ‘persecution’ of judicial officers persists.
The simmering tension permeates the horizon of legal profession in the country as judges contemplate on the position following the clampdown on some of their colleagues alleged to be corrupt, as signposted by the weekend’s arrest of ranking judges by the Service on allegations of corruption.
Among those arrested are two Supreme Court judges, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro. Also arrested are the suspended presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Others include a former Chief Judge of Enugu state, Justice I. A. Umezulike, and Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.
However, the DSS, yesterday, admitted the seven judges on bail, after it came under heavy criticism following the Gestapo-style raid on the judges’ houses conducted by the operatives.
DSS source said, “they were all released on bail yesterday (Sunday) on self recognition. They reported this morning (Monday) and they have all gone back home. They will be coming back tomorrow. And everything went very procedurally well and civil.
“They were released on bail on self-recognition based on the fact that given their standing in the society, they cannot run away. They were instructed that they should come back today by 10am. They did report for investigation this morning and they have gone back home. And the investigation continues and preparation to charge them to court.
“Also, action was sequel to lack of cooperation by the National Judicial Council, such as refusal by the NJC to allow the affected persons to be questioned by the DSS. Investigation started some seven months ago, precisely in April 2016.”
It was also gathered that the agency has also kept some other judges under watch, and this it hopes to unveil in due course.
But notwithstanding the release, Nigerian judges may make history as they threatened boycott if the treatment, being meted out by the DSS remains unabated.
A top source within the judiciary told our reporter that, in as much that the third arm of government would not condone corruption, any Nigerian, including judicial officers, found guilty should be made to face the consequence according to the law.
“Except, the DSS or other security agencies nurturing such plan have a rethink and stop this persecution, we may be forced to vacate the court and let them come and take over if they so desire. While we are not in support of corruption in any form, it is the height of insult to storm residences of judges and paint a picture of criminality.
“Yes, there are procedures and I think that should be strictly adhered to. We are not saying there are no bad eggs, just like in other arms of government, but the argument here is that these people cannot take over the job of the NJC which has been doing pretty well in sanitising the system.
“Things must not continue this way. I think some people are trying to impress somebody somewhere, but this is not the way to go about it. To persecute supposed culprit, is shameful and indeed an uncivilised way to fight corruption.”
Judges absent at courts
A semblance of what to expect from the judges played out yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in what appeared to be solidarity with one of the affected judges, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of Court 7.
Litigants, whose cases were scheduled for Monday, wore long faces when told the judges would not sit.
Some of the major cases affected, include that of former Chief of General Staff, Alex Badeh, former Imo state governor, Ikedi Ohakim and that brought against the House of Representatives by Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited (Shell).
Meanwhile, it is still a waiting game as NJC, the apex judicial body, has slated an emergency meeting for today, to discuss the raging issue.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud (SAN), who had earlier condemned the DSS’s action, said his association will be part of the emergency meeting.
Blueprint gathered last night that the meeting of the NJC is expected to be heated as the apex body will be walking a tight rope in taking a position on the raging imbroglio.
One of our correspondents gathered that a number of judges are mounting pressure on the NJC to take a position that will “save the sanctity and independence of the judiciary by asserting itself.”
Though there are pockets of dissenting opinions from those who felt the law should be allowed to take its course in the case of the suspected judges, our source said those in favour of “the decisive position of boycott to register strong grievance were in the majority.”
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who also chairs the NJC, yesterday broke his silence over the raid on judges’ homes, describing the operations as “regrettable.”
Justice Mohammed, who spoke at the valedictory court session held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima, commended the NBA for the step it had so far, taken on the matter.
“My lords, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, not to detract from this occasion, it is indeed very saddening and deeply regrettable, the distressing and unfortunate incident which occurred on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, 2016.
“However, I must ask all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, as emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council, which will take place tomorrow (Tuesday), will comprehensively look into the matter.
“Furthermore, I must express my sincere appreciation to the executive of the Nigerian Bar Association led by the President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), and indeed all members of the legal profession for their prompt action and continued support,” he said.
I am vindicated –Wada
Meanwhile, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, has insisted that money played a major role in deciding the outcome the 2015 Governorship Election Petition in the state, saying that last week’s arrest of federal judges by men of the State Security Services was a vindication of his earlier position.
Wada said this in a statement signed by his Chief Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, in Abuja.
The former governor declared that the episode reminded Nigerians of his earlier call on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate a probe into the conduct of affairs in the judiciary.
According to him: “I have observed with keen interest the raid by men of the Department of State Services and the arrest of judges alleged to have compromised their oath of office and what attracted my attention more, though not surprising, is the fact that the judges that we had accused of perverting the course of justice in the infamous case of inheritance of a dead candidates votes, were among those who will soon be having their day in court for alleged corruption.
“This is indeed a clear confirmation of my earlier alarm that things had fallen apart in the judiciary and my admonition to President Buhari to commence his anti-corruption fight from the third arm of government.”
The DSS had, in a series of what it called “special sting operations” conducted late night raid on residences of seven judges across the country on Friday and Saturday.
