DSS and NJC trade words on arrest of judges

It is reported that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected the investigation into the judiciary, citing separation of powers and rule of law.

This is following the arrest and investigation of 15 judges nationwide for alleged corruption by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The NJC told the DSS that it was not responsive to “invitations being extended to judicial officers by departments and agencies of government for any reason”.

However, it was due to the refusal by the NJC to co-operate with the DSS that provoked the raid on the judges at the weekend.

The DSS had on Wednesday, October 5, acquired search warrants from a magistrate’s court in Abuja to raid the residences of Justices A.A. Ademola, John Inyang Okoro, Nnamdi Dimgba and Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta.

The search warrants fingered all the judges and were alleged to have been involved in corrupt practices.

The warrants granted the security service access to search their houses for money in Nigerian and foreign currencies and other implicating evidence.

The Department of Secret Service (DSS) had on Friday, October 7, announced that they raided the homes of some Supreme Court judges across the country over allegations of corruption leveled against them.

The arrest of the judges followed a petition that they allegedly received bribes from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state. Nigerians have come out to condemn President Muhammadu Buhari administration for the unprecedented action of the DSS.