Senate to carry out ‘proper’ investigation of judges’ arrest

The Senate’s committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters has been mandated to investigate the purported arrest of six judges by the Department of State Security (DSS).

Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, David Umaru, chairman of the committee, said that it was necessary to invite the judges to provide answers to certain questions from the senate.

“By virtue of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Order 96, Rule 37 of our Rules, the powers of this committee to oversight the Judiciary and its powers include judicial matters and judges.

“I am bringing this to the attention of the Senate so that we can take the permission to enable us conduct proper oversight on this matter and invite the justices.

“This is to enable us to interact with them in order to conduct proper oversight as we are enjoined by the provision of our rules and the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

Bukola Saraki, senate president, responded by saying the committee was already empowered by the rules.

“You do not need to come to us; you have your powers under the oversight and you should be able use the powers and do whatever you deem necessary. So, do your job in line with your powers,” Saraki informed the committee members.

Operatives of the DSS had on October 8 arrested six justices who were alleged to be corrupt.

The judges are John Okoro and Sylvester Nguta of the Supreme Court and a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike.

Others are Nnamdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabiru Auta, from Kano judiciary and Muazu Pindiga of Federal High Court, Gombe.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had on Thursday described the arrest of the judges as threat to democracy and to the independence of the judiciary.