The National Judicial Council has described the invasion of the residences and arrest of some judicial officers by the Department of Security Services (DSS) as a threat to the independence of the judiciary.
The council also added that no judicial officer shall be invited by any institution in the country, including the DSS, without complying with the rule of law and due process
The council said this in a statement last night after it had a two days emergency meeting over the arrest of seven judges over the weekend by the DSS for alleged corruption.
The council said this in a statement last night after it had a two days emergency meeting over the arrest of seven judges over the weekend by the DSS for alleged corruption.
The council in its statement said the invasion portrays a great danger to Nigeria’s democracy and also considered the action as a clear attempt by the DSS to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the judiciary.
The council stated as follows: “That it maintains its earlier decision that no judicial officer shall be invited by any institution, including the DSS, without complying with the rule of law and due process.
“That explains why when the DSS wrote to the council by letter Ref. No. LSC.960/4 dated 14th September 2016, to direct Hon. Justice Mu’azu Pindiga to appear before it, the Hon., the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council directed the Hon. Chief Judge of Gombe State to ask Hon. Justice Mu’azu Pindiga to report to DSS, which His Lordship did.
“That the National Judicial Council has never shielded, nor will it shield any judicial officer who has committed any misconduct.
“That the Department of State Services is an agency in the presidency and its functions as specified in the statute establishing it, is primarily concerned with the internal security of the country.
“That the Department of State Services is an agency in the presidency and its functions as specified in the statute establishing it, is primarily concerned with the internal security of the country.
“That the action of the DSS is a denigration of the entire judiciary, as an institution.
“That by the act of the DSS, judicial officers are now being subjected to insecurity, as criminals might take advantage of the recent incidents to invade their residences under the guise of being security agents.
“That by the act of the DSS, judicial officers are now being subjected to insecurity, as criminals might take advantage of the recent incidents to invade their residences under the guise of being security agents.
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