DSS arrested Justices because NJC refused to probe them

The DSS is said to have asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate allegations of corruption against the judges but the NJC refused.

This reportedly led the DSS to arrest the judges in an operation which occurred between Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8.

The communication between the DSS and the NJC on the matter was contained in a series of letters obtained by ThisDay.

One such letter which was written by the NJC to the DSS concerning accused Judge, Justice M.A. Pindiga reads in part:

“At the end of deliberation, Council found that the claim by your organization is not correct, as the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Hon. Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, did not stop your office from conducting full investigation so as to obtain hard facts to support preliminary findings and proof of allegations without inviting Hon. Justice Pindiga to your office, having done so when he was serving as the Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal.”

“Council further directed that while it is appreciative of the wonderful working relationship between the Judiciary and other Arms of Government, in fidelity with the Principles of Separation of Powers and Rule of Law, it is not amenable to invitations being extended to judicial officers by departments and agencies of government for any reason.”

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Prominent lawyer, Femi Falana, in reaction to the judges’ arrest, criticized the NJC for failing to appropriately sanction corrupt judges.

The DSS has announced that it recovered about $800,000 from three of the judges during the raid.