The
Nigerian Bar Association on Thursday called for the immediate suspension of
seven judges arrested by the State Security Service on October 8.
The President of the
NBA, Abubakar Mahmud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made the call at a
valedictory court session in honour of a retiring Justice of the Court of
Appeal, Sotonye Denton-West.
Seven judges in five
states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory were arrested after
their homes were raided on October 7 by the SSS following allegations of
corruption.
The National Judicial
Council, NJC, responsible for the sanction of judicial officers, was accused by
the SSS of neglecting petitions written against the judges on allegations of
corruption.
The NJC denied the
allegation by the SSS.
Both the NJC and the
NBA had earlier condemned the arrest, describing it as a denigration of the
judiciary.
Mr. Mahmud who had
earlier described the raid of the judges’ homes and their subsequent arrest by
the SSS as unlawful and an abuse of power by the operatives, said his recent
decision is to safeguard the sanctity of the judiciary.
“In the interim,
particularly having regards to what appears to be an ongoing accusations and
counter-accusations between some of the judges and other personalities or
agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC
takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the
courts,” he said.
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