SERAP seeks unconditional release of arrested judges
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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and instruct the Department of State Service (DSS) to unconditionally release the judges arrested.
The Project made the call in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, made available in Abuja on Sunday.
He stated that “the DSS should end the intimidation and harassment of the judiciary.”
He noted that Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Justice John Okoro, both of the Supreme Court, were arrested after a raid in their homes in
Abuja by DSS early on Saturday.
He said Justice Adeniyi Ademola of Federal High Court in Abuja was also arrested by DSS operatives after breaking into his official residence
also on Saturday.
He stated that “there are also reports of invasion of houses and harassment of judges of Federal High Court in Abuja, Gombe and Port Harcourt.
“The official residence of another judge of Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was also searched.
“We are seriously concerned about the wave of arrests, intimidation and harassment of judges across the country by the DSS.
“What the DSS has done is a blow to the independence of judiciary, and a dangerous precedent that should not be allowed to stand,” the
SERAP boss stated.
He emphasised that while SERAP was fully in support of government’s efforts to eradicate judicial corruption, “we cannot accept methods
which patently offend the rule of law and undermine the authority, integrity, sanctity and independence of the judiciary.”
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2 Comments
Unconditional release for who ? The DSS said N93,558,000.00; $530,087; £25,970; and €5,680 (a total of over N270m) were recovered from three of the judges affected in the raid, which the agency described as a follow up to the outcome of a “special sting operation”.
The agency, however, accused a judge in Rivers State of hiding $2m, vowing that it would recover the cash. The DSS 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 judgments obtained fraudulently and on the basis of money paid.
The judges involved were invited, upon which due diligence was exhibited and their premises searched. The searches have uncovered huge raw cash (sums) of various denominations, local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of naira and documents affirming unholy acts by these judges. Fellow countrymen and women , if all that we read above are not invented , then i would not be a part of those that would want to condemn the said necessary arrests !I hereby call on other fellow patriots not to sympathize with those that are bent on destroying the nation through the mortal weapon known as corruption ,Via the mass sales of sentences and bias judgements !
These SERAP people are sabotuars. Did
the Judges consult them in the various miscarriages of justice,
overturning of peoples voting mandate and others who by their connection
threaten yu to dare them. To me I think that if the judiciary is
sanitized the nation will JOIN THE developed world within 10 years, bet
me. So the public is not with you people. You are confirmed
sabotuars. Period
We will review and take appropriate action.