The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Saturday drew a battle line with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over the invasion of residences of some judges and their arrest by operatives of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS).
The Department of State Services (DSS) had confirmed on Saturday that it carried out a special sting operation on some judges of Supreme, Appeal and High courts,
Various sums of monies recovered by the operatives included N93,558,000, $530,087, £25,970 and €5,680, Mr Abdullahi Garba of DSS, had said in a statement.
DSS, Garba said, in the past few days, embarked on the raid based on allegations of corruption and other acts of professional misconduct by a few of the suspected judges.
The action of DSS, he said, was 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 judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis amounts of money paid’’.
However, NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud, while addressing journalists alongside four past presidents, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate release of the affected judges or there would be consequences.
Mahmoud addressed the press at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, alongside four past presidents of the association – Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Mr. J.B. Daudu (SAN) and Augustine Alegeh (SAN).
Also in attendance at the declaration, were Prof. Kayinsola Ajayi (SAN), Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN), Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), Monday Ubani among others.
Mahmoud said two Supreme Court justices, Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta were “abducted”, with their families, adding that he had yet to have the full detail of other judges who could have been involved.
Mahmoud said the NBA condemned what it termed the Gestapo-style operation of the DSS. He announced the constitution of an emergency or crisis management team, comprising past NBA presidents to engage with the government.
Mahmoud, who said it was not the responsibility of the DSS to arrest judges, described the DSS action as an unconstitutional means of intimidating the judiciary and undermining its independence.
The NBA President called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate release of the arrested judges, vowing that there would be consequences should the demand be ignored.
Mahmoud said, “I want to emphasise again that we are not under military rule and we cannot accept this unholy event and Gestapo-style operation.
“We, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately caution all the state security agencies and to respect the rule of law and to respect due process.
“Any issues affecting the judicial officers, there are established procedures for handling them and we demand that this constitutional process must be obeyed.
“Given the unfolding nature of the event and the seriousness of the situation, the NBA hereby declares a state of emergency as it affects the affairs of the judiciary and I hereby constitute a crisis management team, comprising all past presidents of the association.
“I want to, on behalf of the association, make the very following clear and unequivocal demands: we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all the judges abducted from about 9pm yesterday (Friday).
“The release must be done immediately and without any conditions. Two, we demand that the Department of State Services should limit itself to its statutory and constitutional responsibilities. “I’ll be meeting with the CJN later tonight or tomorrow. There will be consequences should these demands are not met.”
