The Department of State Security Service (DSS), in the early hours of Saturday, October 08, 2016 arrested supreme court justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro.
According to NTA News, the Media aide to the Chief Justice
of Nigeria, Mr. Ahuraka Isah made the revelation to newsmen.
of Nigeria, Mr. Ahuraka Isah made the revelation to newsmen.
He said “What I can tell you for now is that Justices Ngwuta
and Okoro were arrested early hours of today.
and Okoro were arrested early hours of today.
“We do not know the reasons for the arrest yet. Justice
Onnoghen was not among those arrested.”
Onnoghen was not among those arrested.”
DSS officials raided the houses of four Supreme Court Judges, Justices Walter
Onnoghen, Sylvester Ngwuta, Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba on Saturday,
October 8, 2016.
Onnoghen, Sylvester Ngwuta, Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba on Saturday,
October 8, 2016.
The security agency in a statement released to newsmen, accused the judicial officers of fraud.
An excerpt of the statement reads:
“The Department of State
Services (DSS) in the past few days, has embarked on series of special sting
operations involving some Judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts.
Services (DSS) in the past few days, has embarked on series of special sting
operations involving some Judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts.
These
operations were based on allegations of corruptions and other acts of
professional misconduct by a few of the suspected Judges.
operations were based on allegations of corruptions and other acts of
professional misconduct by a few of the suspected Judges.
The Service action is
in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the expensive and
luxurious lifestyle of some of the Judges as well as complaints from the
concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis amounts
of money paid.
in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the expensive and
luxurious lifestyle of some of the Judges as well as complaints from the
concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis amounts
of money paid.
“The judges involved were invited, upon which due diligence
was exhibited and their premises searched.
was exhibited and their premises searched.
The searches have uncovered huge raw
cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate
worth several millions of Naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these
Judges.
cash of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate
worth several millions of Naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these
Judges.
Meanwhile, some of them have made useful statements while a few have declined
even with the glaring evidences that were found against them in terms of
material cash, documents and property recovered pointing to their compromise.
even with the glaring evidences that were found against them in terms of
material cash, documents and property recovered pointing to their compromise.
“In one of the States where the Service operations were
conducted, credible intelligence revealed that the Judge had Two Million United
States Dollars ($2,000,000 USD) stashed in his house.
conducted, credible intelligence revealed that the Judge had Two Million United
States Dollars ($2,000,000 USD) stashed in his house.
When he was approached
for due search to be conducted, he in concert with the State Governor,
mobilized thugs against the Service team.
for due search to be conducted, he in concert with the State Governor,
mobilized thugs against the Service team.
The team restrained itself in the
face of unbridled provocative activities by those brought in by the Governor.
Unfortunately, the Judge and Governor also engaged the tacit support of a
sister security agency.”
face of unbridled provocative activities by those brought in by the Governor.
Unfortunately, the Judge and Governor also engaged the tacit support of a
sister security agency.”
Governor Nyesom Wike has also foiled an attempt by the DSS to
arrest a Federal High Court judge.
arrest a Federal High Court judge.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also called on
President Buhari to order the release of the judges.
President Buhari to order the release of the judges.
