Senior judges facing corruption charges to be arraigned in court later this week

SEVEN senior judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with corruption allegations are set to be arraigned in court this week where they will face charges including financial impropriety and the unlawful possession of firearms.

 

Two weeks ago, the DSS took the unprecedented step of raiding the homes of high court judges to arrest members of the bench suspected of being involved in corruption. Their arrest and detention has sparked a nationwide debate, with critics saying the government was interfering with the independence of the judiciary.

 

Now, separate charges have been prepared against them, including two justices of the Supreme Court, who were caught in the web of the unprecedented security onslaught against senior judicial officers. For now, the exact arraignment date is reportedly being kept under wraps by the prosecution in order not to jeopardise the planned trial of the affected judges.

 

Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court have written to the National Judicial Council (NJC), claiming that members of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, attempted to use them in buying judgments in a couple of governorship elections. Justices Okoro and Ngwuta claimed their travails in the hands of the DSS were primarily due to their refusal to help the minister pervert the course of justice.

 

Although currently on administrative bail granted them on self-recognisance, the prosecution would seek the remand of the seven judges in prison custody, even if they came prepared with bail applications. As investigations deepened against the judicial officers, it appears that they could be re-arrested even if granted bail, in order to keep them away from tampering with evidence being collated against them and witnesses being lined up against them.

 

It is believed that some of those to be lined up as witnesses against the judges include those they know and have worked with for years. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, the chief justice of Nigeria and the NJC had kicked against the calls for the suspension of the judges, insisting that there were due processes to be followed.