DSS’ clampdown on judges was a revenge operation – Lawyer says

The group of protesters comprised of the two bodies: Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Citizens for Governance.

The protest which was held on Monday, October 31, 2016, in Abuja, saw the lawyers march to the National Human Rights Commission, Federal High Court, Supreme Court and the National Assembly.

Speaking to Punch, the convener of the protest, Ikenga Ugochinyere said “There should have been no need for the deliberate misinformation to the public that the invasion of the judges’ homes was due to the uncooperative stance of the NJC.

“Make no mistake about it, the attacks on Justices Dimgba, Ademola, Inyang Okoro, Liman were revenge operations not a fight against corruption.”

Ugochinyere also passed a vote of confidence on the National Judicial Council for protecting the independence of the judiciary.

He also slammed the DSS for allegedly trying to intimidate judges who made bold judgements against the Federal Government.

He said “Nigerians may wish to ask certain questions now. Is Justice Ngwuta’s sin not his lead judgment in the Ekiti governorship election which the ruling party wanted at all costs?

“Is Justice Adeniyi Ademola’s sin not his stand on the events that happened between him and the Honourable Attorney General when he was a judge in the Kano Division of the Federal High Court or his orders in the cases of Sambo Dasuki, Nnamdi Kanu, President Buhari’s certificate saga and the orders he made on the attack date of October 7 against the DSS awarding a total of N30m as human rights violation compensation to two complainants?

“Is Justice Dimgba’s sin not his order that he will not hear any applications by the DSS till they obey all his earlier orders and his order declaring one Umar Mohammed as unlawful and ordering his release despite the order has not been obeyed many months after it was made and the political detainee being in detention now for 140 days.”

Ugochinyere also condemned the practice where the Federal Government and its agencies allegedly refuse to obey court orders.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also alleged that President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, John Oyegun masterminded the arrest of the judges.