DSS has opened the way for criminals to raid judges’ homes, says NJC

The National Judicial Council (NJC) says the raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the homes of some judges is an act belittling and humiliating the judiciary.‎

Between Friday and Saturday, the homes of seven judges were raided on allegations of corruption.

In a statement on Thursday night, Soji Oye, NJC’S spokesman, said the raid has put criminals in a position to invade the residences of judges under the guise of being security agents.

Oye maintained that no judicial officer should be invited by any institution, including the DSS, without complying with the due process and the rule of law.

“The action of the DSS is a denigration of the entire judiciary, as an institution,” the statement read.

“By the act of the DSS, judicial officers are now being subjected to insecurity, as criminals might take advantage of the recent incidents to invade their residences under the guise of being security agents.
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“The council vehemently denounces a situation whereby the psyche of judicial officers in the federation is subjected to a level where they would be afraid to discharge their constitutional judicial functions, without fear or favour, intimidation, victimisation or suppression.

“The council will not compromise the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary.

“The council wishes to reassure the public that any person who has a genuine complaint against any Judicial Officer is at liberty to bring it up to the Council for consideration, after following due process vide its judicial discipline regulations.

“At the end of the Meeting, Council unanimously agreed to recommend Hon. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, CFR, as the most senior, suitable and competent Justice of the Supreme Court to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for appointment as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria to succeed Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed GCON who retires from office on 10th November, 2016.

“The NJC viewed the action as a threat to the Independence of the Judiciary, which portends great danger to our democracy; and also considered the action as a clear attempt by the DSS to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the Judiciary.”

Giving an insight into the judges arrested by the DSS, the NJC said ‎it had never received petitions against Inyang Okoro and ‎Sylvester Ngwuta, both justices of the supreme court.
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It said ‎Ladan Tsamiya, a justice of‎ the appeal court, had been suspended for allegedly demanding for a N200 million bribe a matter pending before President Muhammadu Buhari, who is expected to act on the recommendations given to him by the NJC.

‎The council said Kabiru Auta of a high court in Kano has been to recommended to Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano state for removal from office by dismissal, adding that: “‎Council wrote separately to the AIG Kano Zone 1, for Police to prosecute Hon. Justice Auta.‎”

The NJC said though it had not received any petition against, Adeniyi Ademola, a justice in the federal high court Abuja,  a committee was investigating allegations levelled against him.

‎For Muazu Pindiga, a justice of the high court Gombe, the NJC said it had exonerated him from all allegations by the DSS after a committee set up to investigate judge, cleared him.

‎The NJC said for Nnamdi Dimgba, a judge of the federal high court Abuja, a fact finding committee is investigating allegations levelled against him by the DSS.

It added that I. A Umezulike had been recommended to Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu governor, for compulsory retirement over gross misconduct following a petition against him by one Peter Eze.