15 'corrupt' judges under DSS investigation - Source

dimeji akinloye

October 10, 2016 10:01 AM

It was alleged that some of the judicial officers have turned granting of bails to defendants to a money making venture.

Department of State Services (DSS) officers.

At least 15 allegedly corrupt judges are being investigated by the

In the current clampdown on the Supreme, Appeal and High courts across the country over allegations of monumental corruption, the DSS has vowed to bring more judicial officers to justice.

A top Federal Government official told the newspaper that the 15 judges include the seven who were arrested.

The DSS had on Friday and Saturday arrested Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, both of the Supreme Court; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Others arrested were a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, and Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.

It was reported that the agency also invited three court registry staff across the country as part of its bid to rid the judiciary of corruption.

"Currently, we are investigation 15 judges, including the seven that were arrested. Three court registry staff have been invited and quizzed. We have facts and figures," the source stated.

The source refuted the claim that the DSS bypassed the National Judicial Council to carry out the arrests.

"They have no immunity. Even those (governors), who have immunity, can be investigated. There are many professional groups, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists; if you commit a crime, besides facing disciplinary actions from your union, you should be investigated and prosecuted according to the law of the country," he said.

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According to him, some of the judges received bribes to compromise judgements.

Citing the case of one of the detained judges, he said the suspect has a N1.5 billion estate, adding that granting of bails to defendants has been turned into an avenue for making money by some judicial officers.

dimeji akinloye