CHIEF Justice of Nigeria Mahmud Mohammed spoke yesterday of his disappointment at “rising antagonism over the recent arrest of our judicial officers and other issues pertaining there to.”

Justice Mohammed who will be retiring in about three weeks from now deplored the recent sting operations carried out by the Department of State Security (DSS) on some judges, including two justices of the Supreme Court, as an assault on the independence of the Judiciary.

But he explained that the judicial arm is not in any way at war with the executive and legislative arms, saying it is a misunderstanding between the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the DSS.

“It must be reiterated that the current misunderstanding is only between the National Judicial Council (NJC), which was established by the Constitution and the Directorate of the State Security (DSS), in the Presidency,” he said in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant to the CJN, H. S. Sa’eed.

It was an update on the CJN’s position on the arrest and interrogation of Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Iyang Okoro both of the Supreme Court and Justices  Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court ,Abuja; Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court; Muazu Pindiga of Gombe High Court; Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin; and I. A. Umezulike of the Enugu State High Court.

The statement: “Under the powers provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and as the Head of the Third Arm of Government, the, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON is calling on all Nigerians to continue to have faith and full confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria (Hon. CJN) is indeed deeply concerned by the rising antagonism over the recent arrest of our Judicial Officers and other issues pertaining thereto. “Furthermore, it must be reiterated that the current misunderstanding is only between the National Judicial Council (NJC), which was established by the Constitution and the Directorate of the State Security (DSS), in the Presidency.

“Hence, we must emphasise that the Judiciary continues to maintain cordial relations with the other arms of government, that is, the Executive and the National Assembly.

“The CJN reiterates that the Nigerian Judiciary, as an Arm of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is not a party in this matter, nor is the Nigerian Judiciary on trial. “On the call by President of the Nigerian Bar, A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, to suspend Judicial Officers whose residences were invaded and who were subsequently arrested and detained by the DSS, we believe that the call was unnecessary and hasty as the said Judicial Officers are still being investigated by the DSS.

“Furthermore, the DSS is yet to forward any complaint or any official communication regarding the seven Judicial Officers to the National Judicial Council.

“Indeed, some of the affected Judicial Officers have already been investigated by the NJC, which found some culpable and recommended their removal from office by dismissal or retirement to the President and respective Governors as provided under the Constitution.

“While some are still being investigated by the NJC, in respect of others, no complaint against them has been received by the NJC whose powers to suspend must be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution establishing it.

“The National Judicial Council is currently investigating the various complaints made against a number of Judicial Officers. As soon as such investigations are completed, appropriate recommendations will be made to the President or Governors, as the case may be, who will have the final say on the fate of the affected Judicial Officers who could then be charged for the offences disclosed from the facts against them and be prosecuted if necessary.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria also wishes to state in clear terms that the ‘sting’ operations carried out by the DSS on 07 and 08 October 2016 was certainly an assault on the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary.”



http://thenationonlineng.net/cjn-dss-sting-operation-assault-judiciary/

This DSS can lie for Africa!

The went about telling us how the have written several petitions against these seven judges to the NJC but all na lies.


DSS should be told that media TRIAL is making them look stupid and fake.

Punish any corrupt judge

mazifrankmore:
This DSS can lie for Africa!

The went about telling us how the have written several petitions against these seven judges to the NJC but all na lies.


DSS should be told that media TRIAL is making them look stupid and fake.

“Furthermore, the DSS is yet to forward any complaint or any official communication regarding the seven Judicial Officers to the National Judicial Council.

This is the kind of move that makes you wonder if those working at DSS Are dullards...

The judges might be corrupt, but there is no where in the world you use illegality to fight corruption, using illegality to fight corruption rubbishes the process and makes the fight against corruption a fruitless exercise...

The fight against corruption is more than the usual media noise about arrests...

Getting tired of this acclaimed corruption fight and media persecution.No proper investigations, you just run to arrest and report online before even starting proper investigation

mazifrankmore:
This DSS can lie for Africa!

The went about telling us how the have written several petitions against these seven judges to the NJC but all na lies.


DSS should be told that media TRIAL is making them look stupid and fake.

Stop talking trash. DSS never said they wrote petitions, DSS does not write petition. They investigate and arrest. Petitions have continously been written to NJC over the years by members of the public. NJC did nothing. They simply ignore the petition, or at most suspend the judge.

fitzmayowa:



This is the kind of move that makes you wonder if those working at DSS Are dullards...

The judges might be corrupt, but there is no where in the world you use illegality to fight corruption, using illegality to fight corruption rubbishes the process and makes the fight against corruption a fruitless exercise...

The fight against corruption is more than the usual media noise about arrests...

Pls what is the "illegality" here. Which action of the DSS is against the law Stop condoning and endorsing evil. It wont help the nation. Corruption is a cancer that must be cut out!

Keep ranting and keep releasing press statement on daily basis. Nemesis has caught up with you and your fellow corrupt judges. Una cup don full.. .. I can understand why you are panicking... . In the next 2wks and four days you will be gone. What will you be remembered for.. .. . Unlike your would be next Successor Justice Onnoghen who has some landmark judgments to his credit some of which include Amaechi vs Omehia, Atiku vs INEC, FG; Peter Obi vs INEC that gave rise to scattered elections, Yar'adua vs Buhari and more recently CCT vs Saraki where Saraki was to go and face his charges.

blackpanda:


Pls what is the "illegality" here. Which action of the DSS is against the law Stop condoning and endorsing evil. It wont help the nation. Corruption is a cancer that must be cut out!

Oga go through the post again and this time read it carefully, So DSS arresting alleged corrupt judges illegally which could jeopardize their case in court is termed as fight against corruption right

The DSS does not have the power to pronounce someone guilty only the courts do, should in case you forget and for DSS to secure a conviction they have to follow the law to the letter...

Corruption must be cut out but you don't use illegality to cut it out it will only amount to waste of tax payers money and a fruitless exercise...

The DSS used a very wrong and scary approach. Agreed that the judiciary needed cleansing; the raid at their homes is purely childish and I don't believe the president even knew about this. The problem we have now in Nigeria is the so called secret services leaking information to the public even before they start investigations.

If I was the DSS I'll properly set the judges up, tap their phones, mark out their properties and trace how they came about them. When I have the evidence I can get an arrest warrant and arrest them in a bribery sting operation. Going to their houses to search for evidence would be after their arrest. The last thing I'll do is to invade their homes Gestapo style. Now it'll take time for the common man to believe in the independence of the judiciary.

fitzmayowa:



Oga go through the post again and this time read it carefully, So DSS arresting alleged corrupt judges illegally which could jeopardize their case in court is termed as fight against corruption right

The DSS does not have the power to pronounce someone guilty only the courts do, should in case you forget and for DSS to secure a conviction they have to follow the law to the letter...

Corruption must be cut out but you don't use illegality to cut it out it will only amount to waste of tax payers money and a fruitless exercise...

Seriously?? Did u go to school at all? Did DSS arrest all the judges in Nigeria? I asked a question and u went about talking trash. DSS does not pronounce people guilty ok. That is the job of the courts. The job of the DSS is to investigate, arrest and forward to the efcc or HAGF for prosecution. If u dont know what to say go back to bed!

oglalasioux:
The DSS used a very wrong and scary approach. Agreed that the judiciary needed cleansing; the raid at their homes is purely childish and I don't believe the president even knew about this. The problem we have now in Nigeria is the so called secret services leaking information to the public even before they start investigations.

If I was the DSS I'll properly set the judges up, tap their phones, mark out their properties and trace how they came about them. When I have the evidence I can get an arrest warrant and arrest them in a bribery sting operation. Going to their houses to search for evidence would be after their arrest. The last thing I'll do is to invade their homes Gestapo style. Now it'll take time for the common man to believe in the independence of the judiciary.

Setting them up is illegal. Blackmail is a crime. There is nothing like gestapo. Anybody committing a crime can be arrested anytime anyday. And judges do not have any immunity. Nigerians rather have a funny and curious psychology that some people ought to be above the law. You are wrong! A judge becomes a regular citizen the second he steps out of the court. And regular citizens committing crime must be apprehended and arrested

blackpanda:


Seriously?? Did u go to school at all? Did DSS arrest all the judges in Nigeria? I asked a question and u went about talking trash. DSS does not pronounce people guilty ok. That is the job of the courts. The job of the DSS is to investigate, arrest and forward to the efcc or HAGF for prosecution. If u dont know what to say go back to bed!

Oga it seems you have comprehension problem, go through your post and my post once again and read it slowly and carefully...

Oga keep your frustration to yourself abi recession they hammer you badly ni

fitzmayowa:



Oga it seems you have comprehension problem, go through your post and my post once again and read it slowly and carefully...

Oga keep your frustration to yourself abi recession they hammer you badly ni

Grow up and stop typing trash. Use ur brain.

blackpanda:


Grow up and stop typing trash. Use ur brain.

Sorry sir, just take it easy HBP is not a respecta of age don't allow your frustration give you one...

Assault on judiciary indeed, throwing good and clear cut cases is an assault on everything that keeps the fabric of society in place... A corrupt judge is like a madman with lighter and matches+ fireworks in a gas atation


DSS gestapo action was a direct consequence of the multi allegations of aggrieved Nigerians against judicial misconduct which the NJC decided to "unlook" from..

They had petitions but refused to act on them... Ricky Tarfa & Justice Yunusa's bribery case was so public that it couldn't be swept away, otherwise...

fitzmayowa:



Sorry sir, just take it easy HBP is not a respecta of age don't allow your frustration give you one...

You are the one who is frustrated, not me.

Shut da fvck up!

blackpanda:

You are the one who is frustrated, not me.

Sorry na, e never reach to tear cloth na...

fitzmayowa:



Sorry na, e never reach to tear cloth na...

Go and sin no more. But next time try to use brain to analyse issues. Not just follow the bandwagon to talk trash ok.

blackpanda:


Go and sin no more. But next time try to use brain to analyse issues. Not just follow the bandwagon to talk trash ok.

Sha no tear cloth, na from their e dey start, because na so so trash you just they shout since...

fitzmayowa:

Sha no tear cloth, na from their e dey start, because na so so trash you just they shout since...

blackpanda:

Go and sin no more. But next time try to use brain to analyse issues. Not just follow the bandwagon to talk trash ok.

Una two sha wan use the whole first page up!!

blackpanda:
Seriously?? Did u go to school at all? Did DSS arrest all the judges in Nigeria? I asked a question and u went about talking trash. DSS does not pronounce people guilty ok. That is the job of the courts. The job of the DSS is to investigate, arrest and forward to the efcc or HAGF for prosecution. If u dont know what to say go back to bed!

So how many of the arrested judges have been charged to court by DSS and other agencies since
More than two weeks AFTER they were arrested, the Daura Secret Service, DSS is still investigating!
Do you investigate BEFORE arrest or do you investigate after the arrest
Why are we so stupid? No wonder we are called 200 million mumus.

Jamez122:
www.nairaland.com/attachments/4332504_screenshot20161008170847_jpega663de4bee36b86acda6a80f71eab8a1

The houses of two Justices of the Supreme Court – Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta
and Justice Inyang Okoro– as well as two judges of the Federal High Court, Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba, were invaded by operatives of the Department of State Services.
Photos from the raid have emerged. It reportedly occurred between Friday night and Saturday morning as the operatives surrounded their houses before breaking in at 1am on Saturday.

After the raid, Justice Ademola was whisked away at about 5am. During the operation, a brother to Justice Dimgba was allegedly beating.

Photo credit - Punchng
https://mobile.twitter.com/MobilePunch/status/784780694807470081?p=v

Names Of Nigerian Judges Under Investigation Revealed
OCT 16, 2016

A week ago, agents of the Department of State Security (DSS) embarked on an unprecedented raid of homes of numerous judges, arresting several of them, including two Supreme Court justices directly linked with alleged electoral judgment fraud in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.


More from: http://saharareporters.com/2016/10/16/names-nigerian-judges-under-investigation-revealed

Some comments people make on this matter tend to show lack of proper understanding of constitutional provisions on how to deal with corruption in the judiciary.
1. To ensure the independence of the Judiciary, the NJC only is empowered to recommend the appointment, discipline and removal of Judges in the country.
2.Any petition of misconduct or corruption is forwarded to the NJC by the petitioner or through any security agency charged with the responsibility of receiving such petitions
3. the NJC sets up a panel to investigate such petitions and if found guilty, NJC recommends the judge(s) to the president or Governor for removal or retirement or for any other disciplinary action.
4. On removal from the bench, the police, DSS, or EFCC can arrest and prosecute such Judge
5. Under no circumstances should a sitting Judge be arrested or subjected to public ridicule as is currently the case as this amounts to illegality and intimidation of the Judiciary as the proper procedure has not been followed.
6. what the DSS and Executive has succeeded in doing now is to intimidate all Judges across the country and whip them into line with the whims and desires of the Executive arm and APC or be publicly disgraced. So all judgements must now favour Goverment, APC and their agents or you will be publicly arrested and accused of corruption.
7. This is not acceptable and in the interest of Nigerian people as you may be the next victim of this state of affairs especially if your opponent is close to Government or related to someone close to Government.
8. All well meaning Nigerians should condemn this irrespective of political or tribal affiliation.

It is high time kidnappers, ritualists, armed robbers, drug dealers, prostitutes, terrorists, pipeline vandals, etc, all formed their own Councils- like National Kidnappers Council, National Armed Robbers Council, etc.

The bodies would be charged with investigating members alleged to have committed "offences" before handing them over to the executive for prosecution- after all, every citizen has equal rights under the law! What is good for NJC is also good for NKC!

The noise about NJC is becoming too much. Who no fit form council? Nonsense.

anonimi:


So how many of the arrested judges have been charged to court by DSS and other agencies since
More than two weeks AFTER they were arrested, the Daura Secret Service, DSS is still investigating!
Do you investigate BEFORE arrest or do you investigate after the arrest
Why are we so stupid? No wonder we are called 200 million mumus.

Dont say what u dont know. You are obviously not a lawyer, or if u are then you must be very bad at your job. Security agencies investigation do not have time frame when they must end. As long as there is evidence to be obtained the investigation continues. Anybody can be arrested at anytime pursuant to an investigation, and instituting a case in court does not terminate the power of police to investigate. What is more? The judges have all been admitted to bail. So please if u dont know something, its best to be quiet rather than spill trash!

blackpanda:


Dont say what u dont know. You are obviously not a lawyer, or if u are then you must be very bad at your job. Security agencies investigation do not have time frame when they must end. As long as there is evidence to be obtained the investigation continues. Anybody can be arrested at anytime pursuant to an investigation, and instituting a case in court does not terminate the power of police to investigate. What is more? The judges have all been admitted to bail. So please if u dont know something, its best to be quiet rather than spill trash!

I'm really surprised how you keep engaging these people when you know talking to them is like talking to a log of wood- no better way to waste one's time. You'd simply wear yourself out and not an atom of commonsense would you find in any of their responses.

Give it up bro..