Arrest of Judges: APC Chieftain flays CJN, NBA and NASS over their outburst

By Onitsha Shedrack, —DELTA—– October 15^th, 2016 ————–

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Felix Anirah has berated the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Muhammed, the National Assembly and the Nigeria Bar Association over their swiping condemnation of the arrest of some judges by operatives of Department of State Service, DSS.

He commending the operatives of the DSS for finding the courage to raid the houses of some judicial officers, including two justices of the Supreme Court, and arrested them on suspicion of corruption in Enugu, Gombe, Sokoto and Kano states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The lawmakers condemned the action of the DSS, stressing that the security agency went outside the confines of its constitutional powers, which amounted to the usurpation of the powers of the NJC.

Chief Anirah described the media report that the CJN confronted Mr. President over the arrest of suspected corrupt judges as shameful and a national disgrace.

He added that it’s sadden that the NJC, NBA and National Assembly are busy defending alleged corrupt judges, when Nigerians can hardly eat a meal because of official corruption; instead of taking actions to address the rot in the judiciary.

According to him, “it’s sadden that the NBA rather than upholding rule of law and good governance, have turned itself as agents of corruption in the judiciary, due largely to the fact that they are the greatest beneficiaries, therefore they must shamefully protect their interest above national interest.”

He stated that since the NJC has failed to discharge its responsibilities in the discipline of earning judges especially those who handled election cases, the DSS, EFCC and ICPC should be supported in order to bring corrupt judges to book.

Anirah further stated that if other arms of government are being probe and are facing trial in court that nothing stops members of the bench from be arrested, because the constitution didn’t  confers immunity of the judges.

He therefore commended the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Tuesday, justified the arrest and detention of judges by operatives of the DSS, saying “no one is or should be above the law.”