NBA, CJN to decide fate of 'corrupt' judges this week

The Department of State Services (DSS) had raided homes of the judges - seven of them, on October 7 and 8 on allegations of corruption, including bribery and perversion of justice.

According to the second vice president of the NBA, Monday Ubani, the executives of the body of lawyers will meet with Justice Mohammed on Thursday, October 27, to take a position on the fate of the affected judges.

"Our Exco members will be meeting the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Thursday to harmonise these issues; I do not think we should blow this up anymore," Ubani said on Sunday.

The NBA, backed by the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), is recommending the suspension of the judges from official duties until the DSS concludes its investigation.

But Justice Mohammed, who also chairs the National Judicial Council (NJC), described the NBA’s call to suspend the judges as "unnecessary and hasty since the said judicial officers are still being investigated by the DSS."

Explaining the NBA's call for the judges' suspension, Ubani said it was misinterpreted.

"The NBA says we should not ridicule the Judiciary any further by charging sitting judges to court. That’s what we mean," he said.

"Stepping aside will pave the way for trial. It does not make sense charging a sitting judge. It will further undermine the power and sanctity of the Judiciary."

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He stressed that the NBA is committed to ridding the judiciary of corruption.

"We want a corruption-free judiciary but in fighting corruption, it should be done within the ambit of the law," he said.

The affected justices include two justices of the Supreme Court — Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta.

Others are Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, Muazu Pindiga of the Gombe High Court and the Chief Justice of the Enugu State, I.A Umezulike.