The Nigerian Bar Association on Saturday declared a state of emergency in the judiciary following the midnight arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services.
The declaration of the state of emergency was made on Saturday evening in Lagos by the NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN).
Mahmoud addressed the press alongside four past presidents of the association – Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Mr. J.B. Daudu (SAN) and Augustine Alegeh (SAN).
Others in attendance at the declaration, which held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, were Prof. Kayinsola Ajayi (SAN), Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN), Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), 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.”
Is high time that Nigerian judiciary system will realize that d constitution recognized them as an arms of government and independent body.
ReplyDeleteThey should say no to tyrant government under democracy dispensations. If anybody has a strong evidence against any justice. Such person should follows d right channel to prosecuting d Nigerian judge not kangaroo way of apc government and sympathisers
Reports d judge to NJC and do d follow up on d matters until justice prevail.
I can't blame IBB for overthrew Buhari government in 1985. Suffering, Hunger, Oppression and intimidation is what he saw in future.
Every sensible Nigerians should says no to impunity under tyrant government.
Apc government can be best described as tyrant government who made double standard laws. Their enemies are d opposition and they always afraid d opposition bcos of d day of retaliation. The said, judge refused to compromise for apc government in d court of jurisdiction. Someone like Abang and Opesanwo can't be alleged bcos they are doing d dirty job for apc government
Nawao. Is this action of DSS not a coup detat? I am wondering whether a treasonable felony has already been comitted. If we call ours a democracy with 3 arms of government, we must then uphold that form of government that promotes our collective freedom. If you overthrow the judiciary by force of arms, then these guys are also undermining the authority of our constitution. This is not a defence of erring judges but we have already established a procedural order in dealing with that.
ReplyDeleteStupid MBA when buhari refused to release Nnamdi Kanu after a court order none of you reacted now it's your turn. bunch of idiotoo
ReplyDeleteAny body that support this witch hunt by the dss is an asshole just like he who sent them. It shall never be well with unclean hearted nigerians. Amiiiiiiin
ReplyDeleteProb and arrest any corrupt monster in respective of his status.I careles, why do we hate anything that has to with anti corruption and embrace deceit ? Some of us needs to cure our ignorance , mind you , i've cured soon long ago.
ReplyDeleteThis is just the beginning! Who might be the next?
ReplyDeleteMe president is tyrant
ReplyDeleteThis ia horrible i will be praying for Nigeria. I may not be from there, but i feel Naija is a beautiful place but will be better if there was no corruption. Also if there was law and order.
ReplyDeleteTo fight corruption is good,I support it fully,but let it NOT be one sided.buratai d army chief was accused of having a property in Dubai worth over 2m dollars by the efcc,the matter died n his house was not raided,danbazau was fingered on us property worth millions of dollars,his house is yet to be raided but here d are,raiding these ones,who is fooling who please?.
ReplyDeletePls, people we should begin to tell ourselves the truth. Some of us are Professionals in our own callngs as well. For this Nation to move forward, the Judiciary must be cleaned up. Many Lawyers & Judges have continuously ignore the ethics of thier profession in their line of duty. Pls, don't pray you have a case before a Judge in Nigeria, before you realise the extent of abused & misused of our laws in this Nation. Judges are respected any where in the world. So , those of them that have not be applying & abiding by enablings laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be shown the way out & let the reason ones among take up the task. Enough of portfolio judges in our courts.
ReplyDeleteDoes it mean that if judges are corrupt they can't be question or what? ,didn't u guys heard or read what happened in Ghana recently when about 22 judges was indicted for corruption ?is a pity we still fail to learn upon the suffering we are going through due to corrupt politicians and people who think they are untouchable
ReplyDelete