On Friday night, the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the homes of some judges across the country.
It arrested some of them over allegations of corruption. At least, two of the judges whose houses were raided have been critical of the agency.
Adeniyi Ademola, a federal high court judge, handling the trial of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), who is being prosecuted for alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering, had at different times flayed the secret police for keeping the accused person in custody in spite of the bail he granted to him.
Also, Nnamdi Dimgba, another federal high court judge, whose house DSS operatives searched, had criticised the agency over its disregard for citizens’ rights.
Advertisement
The homes of Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro — both supreme court judges — were raided as well.
However, the secret police claimed that it recovered huge amounts of money, including foreign currencies from at least three of the judges.
On Saturday, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) condemned the arrest of the judges, threatening “consequences” if they were not released. It also declared a state of emergency, constituting a crisis management team to wade into the problem.
Advertisement
But a debate rages on over the propriety of the DSS’ raid, even though Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has revealed that judges suspected of corruption usually rush to the court to prevent their arrest, investigation and prosecution, once they have been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC) or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Let’s have your say.
Loading ...
Advertisement
3 comments
Even in the USA, the highest democratic country has in three times arrested some corrupted judge’s in the state same with what the DSS did. if any doubt me he can check d fact himself, so why not in Nigeria? am deeply touched when I hear people claiming is not right to arrest a corrupt judge. I wept for my country
God bless you sir.
My questions to all this folks protesting because DSS arrested some judges goes like this.
(1) are judge’s under immunity clause?
(2) are the above the law of the land?
(3) where they truly corrupt?
(4) are the DSS acting base on their constitutional power?
(5) are we all happy that this same people that has no human sympathy and have diverted their call to justice to continue?
(6) did the law prevent the DSS or EFCC or any security agent from investigating any judge? is or was their a backing of the law?