Arrested Supreme Court Judges To Be Arraigned Today

The two justices of the Supreme Court and five other judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) will be arraigned today before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The judges were arrested on October 7 and 8 by the DSS, over alleged corruption and illegal possession of arms.

Charges are said to be separately prepared against the judges, who were arrested in a sting operation carried out by the DSS.

The judges were, however, admitted to bail on self recognition and had been reporting to the office of the DSS to answer some allegations levelled against them.

The two justices of the apex court, Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro arrested by the DSS, had written to the National Judicial Council (NJC), claiming that their travails in the hands of the DSS were political persecution.

The prosecution, it was learnt, would put measures in place to keep the judges away from tampering with evidence being collated against them and witnesses lined up to give evidence.

Meanwhile, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to declare as unlawful, the raid and arrest of judges by the DSS, and an order of injunction stopping the planned arraignment in court.

The group claimed in the suit that the judges could not be charged and arraigned in court without the authorisation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

In a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed at the court on Tuesday, LEDAP sought “an order restraining the defendants/respondents from filing any charge in court or arraigning before any court or arresting and/or detaining, inviting for questioning or searching the office or residence of any of the judicial officers listed in the schedule hereunder or any other judicial officer in Nigeria unless with the authorisation and referral of the NJC, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons filed in this suit.”

The group is seeking general and exemplary damages of N1 million for each of the seven arrested judges against the DSS.

The matter is yet to be fixed for hearing.