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Showing posts with label DSS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DSS. Show all posts

S'Court Secret Account: Fears Grips Judges, Staffs As 13 Justices Named As Beneficiaries, See Details

S'Court Secret Account: Fears Grips Judges, Staffs As 13 Justices Named As Beneficiaries, See Details

S'Court Secret Account: Fears Grips Judges, Staffs As 13 Justices Named As Beneficiaries, See Details
There is palpable fear among Justices and staff of the Supreme Court over the discovery of a secret bank account with huge sums of money belonging to the apex court by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

Already, Chief Registrar of the court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two others, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal have been slammed with a nine-count charge of alleged N2.2b fraud by the Federal Government, over operation of the secret account.


Supreme Court sources told Daily Sun that about 13 Justices of the apex court, who have all benefited from the account are now living in fear of a possible arrest.

That Scattered My Relationship For 2years.. Click HERE for Details

Besides, those directly charged in connection to the account, the source further said include “some principal officers who have been interrogated by the DSS.”

Although, about 13 Justices of the apex court were said to have signed and collected money drawn from the secret account, the source said “the Federal Government may not move against them as doing so will affect the quorum of the court.

“We have evidence against those Justices but, going against them will mean there will be no Supreme Court.

“They actually signed and collected money from the account, which contains billions of naira.”

The alleged account was allegedly operated outside of the due process of the civil service and “money in the account is often withdrawn to fund foreign trips of some judges.

“Preliminary investigation shows that staff of the court and Justices also withdraw funds from the account.
“Also, the secret account is used for foreign trips of Judges.”

When contacted to react on the issue, Alhaji Ahurakah Isah, media aide to the out-going Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed declined comments. Isah said the apex court will react at an appropriate time.

Last Thursday, government filed a nine-count criminal charge against Saleh and two others over alleged N2.2 billion fraud at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja.

Others named in the charge, with number CR/13/2016  and dated November 3, 2016, are Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal all staff of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The defendants were specifically accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and taking gratification by Public officers, contrary to Section 10 (a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

Excerpt from The Sun Newspaper Used in this article

S'Court Secret Account: Fears Grips Judges, Staffs As 13 Justices Named As Beneficiaries, See Details
There is palpable fear among Justices and staff of the Supreme Court over the discovery of a secret bank account with huge sums of money belonging to the apex court by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

Already, Chief Registrar of the court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two others, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal have been slammed with a nine-count charge of alleged N2.2b fraud by the Federal Government, over operation of the secret account.


Supreme Court sources told Daily Sun that about 13 Justices of the apex court, who have all benefited from the account are now living in fear of a possible arrest.

That Scattered My Relationship For 2years.. Click HERE for Details

Besides, those directly charged in connection to the account, the source further said include “some principal officers who have been interrogated by the DSS.”

Although, about 13 Justices of the apex court were said to have signed and collected money drawn from the secret account, the source said “the Federal Government may not move against them as doing so will affect the quorum of the court.

“We have evidence against those Justices but, going against them will mean there will be no Supreme Court.

“They actually signed and collected money from the account, which contains billions of naira.”

The alleged account was allegedly operated outside of the due process of the civil service and “money in the account is often withdrawn to fund foreign trips of some judges.

“Preliminary investigation shows that staff of the court and Justices also withdraw funds from the account.
“Also, the secret account is used for foreign trips of Judges.”

When contacted to react on the issue, Alhaji Ahurakah Isah, media aide to the out-going Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed declined comments. Isah said the apex court will react at an appropriate time.

Last Thursday, government filed a nine-count criminal charge against Saleh and two others over alleged N2.2 billion fraud at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja.

Others named in the charge, with number CR/13/2016  and dated November 3, 2016, are Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal all staff of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The defendants were specifically accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and taking gratification by Public officers, contrary to Section 10 (a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

Excerpt from The Sun Newspaper Used in this article

BREAKING:DSS Invites Justice Ademola's Wife, Lagos PS

BREAKING:DSS Invites Justice Ademola's Wife, Lagos PS

Justice Ademola
Fresh report according to 247Ureport suggests that a Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, who is also a wife to the embattled Justice Ademola Adeniyi has been invited by the Nigeria's secret police, the DSS.

The DSS invited Justice Adeniyi Ademola's wife to report at the DSS office in Abuja on the morning of Thursday October 27, 2016. Mrs Ademola serves as a Permanent Secretary under the Lagos State Government. 

At the time of drafting this report, Mrs. Ademola is said to be en-route to Abuja from Lagos.


According to our source, it is uncertain the reason why the DSS invited the wife of Justice Ademola whose resident was recently invaded

The DSS has continued to investigate the case against the recently arrested Justices of the Supreme Courts and other Justices around the country – even after the President of Nigeria, General Mohammadu Buhari had issued a directive for the investigation be moved over to the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].

Justice Ademola
Fresh report according to 247Ureport suggests that a Permanent Secretary in Lagos State, who is also a wife to the embattled Justice Ademola Adeniyi has been invited by the Nigeria's secret police, the DSS.

The DSS invited Justice Adeniyi Ademola's wife to report at the DSS office in Abuja on the morning of Thursday October 27, 2016. Mrs Ademola serves as a Permanent Secretary under the Lagos State Government. 

At the time of drafting this report, Mrs. Ademola is said to be en-route to Abuja from Lagos.


According to our source, it is uncertain the reason why the DSS invited the wife of Justice Ademola whose resident was recently invaded

The DSS has continued to investigate the case against the recently arrested Justices of the Supreme Courts and other Justices around the country – even after the President of Nigeria, General Mohammadu Buhari had issued a directive for the investigation be moved over to the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].

Judges Invasion: DSS After Me For Refusing Bribe From Amaechi, APC Over Akwa-Ibom Governorship - S'Court Justice Okoro

Judges Invasion: DSS After Me For Refusing Bribe From Amaechi, APC Over Akwa-Ibom Governorship - S'Court Justice Okoro

amaechi and justice okoro
John Inyang Okoro, justice of the supreme court, says the Department of State Services (DSS) is after him because he refused a bribe from Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation.

Amaechi has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the judge.

Okoro, whose house was raided by the DSS on October 8, alleged that Amaechi had approached him to compromise the governorship election appeals from Akwa Ibom, Abia and River states, but that he declined to fall in line.


In a letter to the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), the judge alleged that Amaechi was desperate in his demand.

“Mr Ameachi said All  Progressive Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs,” Okoro alleged.

“For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Mr Umana Umana, candidate of All Progressive Congress for the election, and if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal he would have lost a fortune.”

“Mr Ameachi also said that he had already visited you and that you had agreed to make me a member of the panel that would hear the appeals. He further told me that Mr Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I cooperated with them.”

He reminded the CJN that he had reported the bribery attempt to him in February.

“I strongly believe that my travail is not undermined but with the verbal report I made to you on 7th February 2016, about the visit to my official residence by Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state and now minister of transportation,” Okoro said.

However, Amaechi has denied the allegation, describing it as a figment of Okoro’s imagination.

He also threatened to sue the judge.

“‎This accusation from Justice Okoro against Amaechi is a figment of his imagination, concocted to obfuscate and politicize the real issues for his arrest and DSS investigation of allegations of corruption against him,” he said in a statement issued by his media office.

“The claims by Justice Okoro against Amaechi are blatant lies, bereft of any iota of truth or even logic. Amaechi did not, and has never approached Justice Okoro in respect of the cases Okoro mentioned or any other case.

“This is a cheap attempt, albeit,  political move to drag the name of Amaechi into something he knows nothing about. Justice Okoro should face his issues and leave Amaechi out of it.  He will be hearing from our lawyers.”

TheCable


amaechi and justice okoro
John Inyang Okoro, justice of the supreme court, says the Department of State Services (DSS) is after him because he refused a bribe from Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation.

Amaechi has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the judge.

Okoro, whose house was raided by the DSS on October 8, alleged that Amaechi had approached him to compromise the governorship election appeals from Akwa Ibom, Abia and River states, but that he declined to fall in line.


In a letter to the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), the judge alleged that Amaechi was desperate in his demand.

“Mr Ameachi said All  Progressive Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs,” Okoro alleged.

“For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Mr Umana Umana, candidate of All Progressive Congress for the election, and if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal he would have lost a fortune.”

“Mr Ameachi also said that he had already visited you and that you had agreed to make me a member of the panel that would hear the appeals. He further told me that Mr Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I cooperated with them.”

He reminded the CJN that he had reported the bribery attempt to him in February.

“I strongly believe that my travail is not undermined but with the verbal report I made to you on 7th February 2016, about the visit to my official residence by Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state and now minister of transportation,” Okoro said.

However, Amaechi has denied the allegation, describing it as a figment of Okoro’s imagination.

He also threatened to sue the judge.

“‎This accusation from Justice Okoro against Amaechi is a figment of his imagination, concocted to obfuscate and politicize the real issues for his arrest and DSS investigation of allegations of corruption against him,” he said in a statement issued by his media office.

“The claims by Justice Okoro against Amaechi are blatant lies, bereft of any iota of truth or even logic. Amaechi did not, and has never approached Justice Okoro in respect of the cases Okoro mentioned or any other case.

“This is a cheap attempt, albeit,  political move to drag the name of Amaechi into something he knows nothing about. Justice Okoro should face his issues and leave Amaechi out of it.  He will be hearing from our lawyers.”

TheCable


Judges' Arrest: Buhari, AGF, DSS Others Sued For N50bn

Judges' Arrest: Buhari, AGF, DSS Others Sued For N50bn

Lawyer Sues Buhari, AGF, DSS Others For N50bn Over Arrested Judges
Punch Newspaper - A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has filed a N50bn suit against President Muhammadu Buhari, the Department of State Services and its Director-General, Lawal Daura, along with others for allegedly violating the rights of judges whose houses were raided by DSS operatives between October 8 and 9.

Others joined as defendants in the suit with number, FHC/ABJ/CS/809/16, are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the National Judicial Council.

Ogungbeje filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 14.



He alleged that the arrest of the judges without recourse to the NJC was unlawful and amounted to humiliating them.

He said the DSS operations violated the rights of judges under sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the Constitution.

The plaintiff sought 10 prayers, among which is an order awarding N50bn against the defendants as “general and exemplary damages”.

He also sought to be awarded N2m as the cost of the suit.

He also sought an order compelling the DSS to return to the judges the sums of money recovered from them.

He also sought perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from arresting, inviting, intimidating, or harrassing the judges with respect to the case.

The DSS had, between Friday and Saturday, arrested Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court; Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.

Justice Nnnamdi Dimgba’s residence was also searched but he was not arrested.

Others who were arrested had been placed on suspension by the NJC pending the President Buhari and their various state governors would approve its recommendation for their sacking.

They are a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; and judge of the Kano State High Court, Justice Kabiru Auta.

The DSS said it recovered large sums of money in Nigerian and foreign currencies from three of the judges during the raid on the houses of the seven judicial officers.

All the seven of them had since been released on self-recognition by the DSS.

But Ogungbeje’s suit is restricted to five of the arrested judges who are still in active service, namely, Justices Ngwuta, Okoro, Ademola, Pindiga and Dimgba.

The plaintiff contended in his suit that the raid on the residences of the judges and their arrest was unconstitutional.

He maintained that the arrest of the judges did not follow the law.

He stated in a 39-paragraph affidavit which he deposed to in support of the suit, “That the 1st (President Buhari), 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), 4th (AGF), and 5th (Inspector-General of Police) respondents against there is no petition by the affected to the 6th respondent (NJC).

“That the 6th respondent is the only body empowered by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discipline judges and judicial officers in Nigeria.

“That the judiciary is an independent arm of government in Nigeria and separate from the executive and the legislature.

“That this illegal and unconstitutional action by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents have been roundly condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association.

“That the 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), and 5th (IGP) respondents carried out their action which brazenly infringed upon the rights of the affected five judges without lawful excuse or recourse to the 6th respondent.

Lawyer Sues Buhari, AGF, DSS Others For N50bn Over Arrested Judges
Punch Newspaper - A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has filed a N50bn suit against President Muhammadu Buhari, the Department of State Services and its Director-General, Lawal Daura, along with others for allegedly violating the rights of judges whose houses were raided by DSS operatives between October 8 and 9.

Others joined as defendants in the suit with number, FHC/ABJ/CS/809/16, are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the National Judicial Council.

Ogungbeje filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 14.



He alleged that the arrest of the judges without recourse to the NJC was unlawful and amounted to humiliating them.

He said the DSS operations violated the rights of judges under sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the Constitution.

The plaintiff sought 10 prayers, among which is an order awarding N50bn against the defendants as “general and exemplary damages”.

He also sought to be awarded N2m as the cost of the suit.

He also sought an order compelling the DSS to return to the judges the sums of money recovered from them.

He also sought perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from arresting, inviting, intimidating, or harrassing the judges with respect to the case.

The DSS had, between Friday and Saturday, arrested Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court; Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.

Justice Nnnamdi Dimgba’s residence was also searched but he was not arrested.

Others who were arrested had been placed on suspension by the NJC pending the President Buhari and their various state governors would approve its recommendation for their sacking.

They are a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; and judge of the Kano State High Court, Justice Kabiru Auta.

The DSS said it recovered large sums of money in Nigerian and foreign currencies from three of the judges during the raid on the houses of the seven judicial officers.

All the seven of them had since been released on self-recognition by the DSS.

But Ogungbeje’s suit is restricted to five of the arrested judges who are still in active service, namely, Justices Ngwuta, Okoro, Ademola, Pindiga and Dimgba.

The plaintiff contended in his suit that the raid on the residences of the judges and their arrest was unconstitutional.

He maintained that the arrest of the judges did not follow the law.

He stated in a 39-paragraph affidavit which he deposed to in support of the suit, “That the 1st (President Buhari), 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), 4th (AGF), and 5th (Inspector-General of Police) respondents against there is no petition by the affected to the 6th respondent (NJC).

“That the 6th respondent is the only body empowered by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discipline judges and judicial officers in Nigeria.

“That the judiciary is an independent arm of government in Nigeria and separate from the executive and the legislature.

“That this illegal and unconstitutional action by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents have been roundly condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association.

“That the 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), and 5th (IGP) respondents carried out their action which brazenly infringed upon the rights of the affected five judges without lawful excuse or recourse to the 6th respondent.

DSS Raid: Judges Plan Mass Resignation - Nigerian Lawyers

DSS Raid: Judges Plan Mass Resignation - Nigerian Lawyers

DSS Raid: Judges Plan Mass Resignation
Nigerian Layers - Nigerian judges are planning an unprecedented mass resignation to protest the alleged assault against the independence of the judiciary by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The mass discontent running through the system over the arrest of seven of their colleagues by the Department of State Services penultimate Friday, is now reaching a climax with an ongoing mass mobilisation nationwide to resign enmass.

In the plan being hatched, the Federal High Court could end up being the most affected if the protagonists went ahead with their plot.


 Incidentally, suspended talks at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) on whether the Federal High Court should be phased out or retained, had not been concluded. Sunday Tribune was told by multiple senior sources that judicial officers who had been materially successful in legal practice before opting for the Bench as a form of service, aren’t finding it funny that even properties acquired before joining the Bench are now being tagged proceeds of alleged corruption by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the DSS, probing alleged malfeasances in the justice system.

A particular DSS-interest was reportedly infuriated that after acquiring a Doctorate degree in Law at a prestigious university in the United Kingdom (names withheld) and making a fortune practising law abroad with multi-million naira worth of properties to show for it, he is now being smeared with corruption allegations all because he wanted to serve his country as a judge.

A total of 31 top judges of superior courts of record are being investigated by both agencies (DSS and EFCC), including two justices of the Supreme Court.

Three of the said judicial officers have recently been exited from service by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

While the DSS is handling cases of 23 judges, EFCC said it was probing eight judges and two court registrars.

Apart from the initial seven, busted in the midnight raid by the DSS, the service had disclosed that eight other judges were to be picked before a reported presidential directive halted all operations as public disavowal hit the exercise.

Another set of two judges were reportedly arrested days after the midnight raid, while the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was said to have sent another six petitions against six judges to the DSS.

While reacting to a report of loss of confidence in EFCC, commission said eight judges are under its own belt, with one of them, also in DSS’s net.

The eight initially planned for the second round of arrest, are all said to be justices of the Supreme Court.

A top source confirmed that the apex court was aware of the project, allegedly targetted at giving the court a new beginning with new entrants who are not necessarily from the Court of Appeal as it is the tradition.

A cabinet minister during a private media briefing refused to confirm or deny the identities of the targetted judges.

The minister also refused to confirm if Justice Walter Onnoghen, the CJN-designate, is among those to be arrested. It was also revealed at the interface that the current administration had resolved to bust anyone with huge cash at home and such would be considered proceeds of crime if the owner could not convincingly explain how he or she came about the cash.

According to him “if your cash is clean, you will put it in the bank.”

Before embarking on the raids, they had written a series of memos to the NJC. On 26th February, 2016, the DSS sent a memo with Reference No DGSS.71/3161 to Justice Mahmud, accusing Justice Muazu Pindiga of Gombe judicial division of alleged corruption on his involvement in the Rivers State election petition tribunal as the former chairman before he was removed.

In another memo from the DSS dated 5th August, 2016 with Reference No LSD.158/2/31, the Service accused Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court who had earlier ruled against the DSS in its case against Umar Mohammed, of alleged corruption, recommending to the NJC “to urgently investigate the compromise and gross misconduct by the judicial officer as his conduct falls short of the expectations of the profession and defeats the culture of probity, transparency and equity which this current administration stands to entrench”. The memo was signed by Ahamed Ahmad for Daura.

Meanwhile, Onnoghen who was last week recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari as the next CJN, is reportedly primed to go through his security screening this week at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

He is the sole nominee to the president.

The security screening is expected to establish his suitability for the job, before his name will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

He is the first CJN-hopeful from the South in 29 years.

DSS Raid: Judges Plan Mass Resignation
Nigerian Layers - Nigerian judges are planning an unprecedented mass resignation to protest the alleged assault against the independence of the judiciary by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The mass discontent running through the system over the arrest of seven of their colleagues by the Department of State Services penultimate Friday, is now reaching a climax with an ongoing mass mobilisation nationwide to resign enmass.

In the plan being hatched, the Federal High Court could end up being the most affected if the protagonists went ahead with their plot.


 Incidentally, suspended talks at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) on whether the Federal High Court should be phased out or retained, had not been concluded. Sunday Tribune was told by multiple senior sources that judicial officers who had been materially successful in legal practice before opting for the Bench as a form of service, aren’t finding it funny that even properties acquired before joining the Bench are now being tagged proceeds of alleged corruption by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the DSS, probing alleged malfeasances in the justice system.

A particular DSS-interest was reportedly infuriated that after acquiring a Doctorate degree in Law at a prestigious university in the United Kingdom (names withheld) and making a fortune practising law abroad with multi-million naira worth of properties to show for it, he is now being smeared with corruption allegations all because he wanted to serve his country as a judge.

A total of 31 top judges of superior courts of record are being investigated by both agencies (DSS and EFCC), including two justices of the Supreme Court.

Three of the said judicial officers have recently been exited from service by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

While the DSS is handling cases of 23 judges, EFCC said it was probing eight judges and two court registrars.

Apart from the initial seven, busted in the midnight raid by the DSS, the service had disclosed that eight other judges were to be picked before a reported presidential directive halted all operations as public disavowal hit the exercise.

Another set of two judges were reportedly arrested days after the midnight raid, while the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was said to have sent another six petitions against six judges to the DSS.

While reacting to a report of loss of confidence in EFCC, commission said eight judges are under its own belt, with one of them, also in DSS’s net.

The eight initially planned for the second round of arrest, are all said to be justices of the Supreme Court.

A top source confirmed that the apex court was aware of the project, allegedly targetted at giving the court a new beginning with new entrants who are not necessarily from the Court of Appeal as it is the tradition.

A cabinet minister during a private media briefing refused to confirm or deny the identities of the targetted judges.

The minister also refused to confirm if Justice Walter Onnoghen, the CJN-designate, is among those to be arrested. It was also revealed at the interface that the current administration had resolved to bust anyone with huge cash at home and such would be considered proceeds of crime if the owner could not convincingly explain how he or she came about the cash.

According to him “if your cash is clean, you will put it in the bank.”

Before embarking on the raids, they had written a series of memos to the NJC. On 26th February, 2016, the DSS sent a memo with Reference No DGSS.71/3161 to Justice Mahmud, accusing Justice Muazu Pindiga of Gombe judicial division of alleged corruption on his involvement in the Rivers State election petition tribunal as the former chairman before he was removed.

In another memo from the DSS dated 5th August, 2016 with Reference No LSD.158/2/31, the Service accused Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court who had earlier ruled against the DSS in its case against Umar Mohammed, of alleged corruption, recommending to the NJC “to urgently investigate the compromise and gross misconduct by the judicial officer as his conduct falls short of the expectations of the profession and defeats the culture of probity, transparency and equity which this current administration stands to entrench”. The memo was signed by Ahamed Ahmad for Daura.

Meanwhile, Onnoghen who was last week recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari as the next CJN, is reportedly primed to go through his security screening this week at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

He is the sole nominee to the president.

The security screening is expected to establish his suitability for the job, before his name will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

He is the first CJN-hopeful from the South in 29 years.

Masked DSS Men FORCED Me To Sign Document At GUNPOINT - Justice Ademola Narrates ordeal

Masked DSS Men FORCED Me To Sign Document At GUNPOINT - Justice Ademola Narrates ordeal

Justice Ademola DSS
One of the seven Nigerian judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in recent raids, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, has opened up on the encounter, declaring that the service forced him to sign a document at gunpoint.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed dated October 11, 2016, which was obtained by the media, Ademola also accused the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, of being behind his ordeal as a revenge for the punishment he meted out to him for professional misconduct when he (Ademola) was a Federal High Court Judge in Kano State.


In the letter entitled “Report on the Unlawful Invasion of the Resident of Hon. Justice Adeniyi Francis Ademola on the 7th of October 2016 and My Abduction,” Ademola stated that “contrary to the media report being circulated, I have never confessed to any crime or implicated anybody including judges in the statement obtained from me by the DSS.”

The letter, which he personally signed, noted that DSS’ officials arrived his residence on or about 12 a.m. on that fateful day. He said: “I was awoken by loud sound of banging, breaking and hitting on my front door. This gave me a lot of fear as I thought whoever was banging and hitting at my door were armed robbers or thieves especially because this was at an ungodly hour of the night.”

The embattled Justice, who indicated in the letter that he would commence legal proceedings against the DSS for violating his fundamental rights, said the DSS officials after gaining entrance into his apartment ransacked the house for about six hours.

“All this activity lasted for about six hours and when they finally finished with their guns still pointed at me, they handed a document to me purported to be an inventory of the items found upon their search and threatened me to sign it as being true. They threatened that if I did not sign it, they would not leave me alone and whatever they did to me at that point would be recorded and that I will not be alive to tell the story of what transpired between me and them that night.  For fear and interest of my life, and unknown persons with mask on their faces, I collected the written items and signed the document,” he recalled.

Ademola, who alleged that he was whisked away from his residence to the office of the DSS without any Warrant of Arrest or reason for his arrest, said he was only informed of his alleged offences in the evening of October 9, 2016.

According to him, the DSS raised three allegations against him, which included “Petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th April, 2016 to the National Judicial Council; granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu; and using my office to secure my wife’s appointment as the Head of the Civil Service Lagos State through Senator Bola Tinubu.”

Dasuki and Kanu are being held by the DSS on separate charges of corruption and treason.

But Ademola noted: “All the allegations that border on judicial decisions were supported with Certified True Copy of Proceedings showing that those applications were not opposed by Counsel representing the DSS or Federal Government of Nigeria. On the amount recovered in my residence, they were unable to tell me the exact amount recovered. And I explained that the appointment of my wife as Head of Service was based on merit and seniority.”

“What is more intriguing in this whole episode is that I see it as a vendetta/revenge from the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Mallami (SAN). Whilst I was in Kano between 2004-2008 as a Federal High Court Judge, he was involved in a professional misconduct necessitating his arrest and detention. However, with the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch, the allegation of misconduct was later withdrawn by me.

“Consequently, the NJC referred Abubakar Mallami (SAN) to the NBA Disciplinary Committee for disciplinary action. It was as a result of this he was denied the rank of SAN by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for the period of four years until when he produced a fake letter of apology, purportedly addressed to me. It was then he was conferred with the rank. Since the above incident, Abubakar Mallami (SAN) has threatened to revenge and swore to do anything to bring me down,” Ademola noted.

Justice Ademola DSS
One of the seven Nigerian judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in recent raids, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, has opened up on the encounter, declaring that the service forced him to sign a document at gunpoint.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed dated October 11, 2016, which was obtained by the media, Ademola also accused the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, of being behind his ordeal as a revenge for the punishment he meted out to him for professional misconduct when he (Ademola) was a Federal High Court Judge in Kano State.


In the letter entitled “Report on the Unlawful Invasion of the Resident of Hon. Justice Adeniyi Francis Ademola on the 7th of October 2016 and My Abduction,” Ademola stated that “contrary to the media report being circulated, I have never confessed to any crime or implicated anybody including judges in the statement obtained from me by the DSS.”

The letter, which he personally signed, noted that DSS’ officials arrived his residence on or about 12 a.m. on that fateful day. He said: “I was awoken by loud sound of banging, breaking and hitting on my front door. This gave me a lot of fear as I thought whoever was banging and hitting at my door were armed robbers or thieves especially because this was at an ungodly hour of the night.”

The embattled Justice, who indicated in the letter that he would commence legal proceedings against the DSS for violating his fundamental rights, said the DSS officials after gaining entrance into his apartment ransacked the house for about six hours.

“All this activity lasted for about six hours and when they finally finished with their guns still pointed at me, they handed a document to me purported to be an inventory of the items found upon their search and threatened me to sign it as being true. They threatened that if I did not sign it, they would not leave me alone and whatever they did to me at that point would be recorded and that I will not be alive to tell the story of what transpired between me and them that night.  For fear and interest of my life, and unknown persons with mask on their faces, I collected the written items and signed the document,” he recalled.

Ademola, who alleged that he was whisked away from his residence to the office of the DSS without any Warrant of Arrest or reason for his arrest, said he was only informed of his alleged offences in the evening of October 9, 2016.

According to him, the DSS raised three allegations against him, which included “Petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th April, 2016 to the National Judicial Council; granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu; and using my office to secure my wife’s appointment as the Head of the Civil Service Lagos State through Senator Bola Tinubu.”

Dasuki and Kanu are being held by the DSS on separate charges of corruption and treason.

But Ademola noted: “All the allegations that border on judicial decisions were supported with Certified True Copy of Proceedings showing that those applications were not opposed by Counsel representing the DSS or Federal Government of Nigeria. On the amount recovered in my residence, they were unable to tell me the exact amount recovered. And I explained that the appointment of my wife as Head of Service was based on merit and seniority.”

“What is more intriguing in this whole episode is that I see it as a vendetta/revenge from the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Mallami (SAN). Whilst I was in Kano between 2004-2008 as a Federal High Court Judge, he was involved in a professional misconduct necessitating his arrest and detention. However, with the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch, the allegation of misconduct was later withdrawn by me.

“Consequently, the NJC referred Abubakar Mallami (SAN) to the NBA Disciplinary Committee for disciplinary action. It was as a result of this he was denied the rank of SAN by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for the period of four years until when he produced a fake letter of apology, purportedly addressed to me. It was then he was conferred with the rank. Since the above incident, Abubakar Mallami (SAN) has threatened to revenge and swore to do anything to bring me down,” Ademola noted.

Judges Invasion: NJC Report INDICTS FG, DSS

Judges Invasion: NJC Report INDICTS FG, DSS

Judges Invasion: NJC Statement INDICTS FG, DSS
The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday condemned the arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services (DSS).

It described the action as a threat to the independence of the Judiciary, which portends great danger to our democracy.

The judicial body also described the arrest of judges as a clear attempt by the DSS to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the Judiciary.


The NJC expressed its support the Federal Government’s commitment to the fight against corruption, but insisted that due process must be adhered to.

The NJC, in a statement late last night, said it had nominated the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court as the successor to Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who will retire on November 10.

“Council meticulously considered the entire unfolding events that led to the arrest of the Judicial Officers and the misinformation and disinformation making rounds in both Electronic and Print Media that the DSS acted thus because the National Judicial Council was shielding the Judicial Officers from investigation and prosecution for corrupt practices and professional misconduct.

“Council noted particularly, that from the available records, the DSS forwarded only two (2 no.) separate complaints containing allegations of Corrupt Practices against Hon. Justice Pindiga; and corrupt practices and professional misconduct against Hon. Justice Dimgba.

“The impression created and widely circulated before the public; that the DSS forwarded a number of petitions containing various allegations of corrupt practices and professional misconduct against some Judicial Officers to the Council, and they were not investigated, is not correct.  The Council urges the DSS to make public the particulars of such petitions to put the records straight.

“Given the above background facts, on behalf of the Judiciary, Council is constrained to inform the general public that all petitions and complaints forwarded against Judicial Officers bordering on corrupt practices and professional misconduct, have been attended to and investigated, where applicable, by Council since year 2000 to date, within the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“Therefore, any Judicial Officer that was reprimanded by Council or recommended for removal from office by compulsory retirement or dismissal to the President or Governor, was done in compliance with the Constitutional power, Rule of Law and Due Process.

“From year 2000, when the National Judicial Council held its inaugural Meeting to 2016, 1808 petitions and complaints against Judicial Officers, including Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justices of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal were received by the respective Honourable, the Chief Justices of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council.  Eighty-two (82 No.) of the Judicial Officers were reprimanded (suspension, caution or warning), by Council, in the exercise of its exclusive Constitutional Disciplinary power over Judicial Officers. Thirty-eight (38 No.) of the Judicial Officers were recommended to the President or Governor where applicable, for compulsory retirement from office; while twelve (12 No.) were recommended to the President or Governor as the case may be, for dismissal from office.

“In conclusion, Council wishes to state 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 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.
  • The Council vehemently denounces a situation whereby the Psyche of Judicial Officers in the Federation is subjected to a level where they would be afraid to discharge their Constitutional judicial functions, without fear or favour, intimidation, victimization or suppression.
  • The Council will not compromise the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary.
  • The Council wishes to reassure the public that any person who has a genuine complaint against any Judicial Officer is at liberty to bring it up to the Council for consideration, after following due process vide its Judicial Discipline Regulations.
  • At the end of the Meeting, Council unanimously agreed to recommend Hon. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, CFR, as the most senior, suitable and competent Justice of the Supreme Court to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for appointment as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria to succeed Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed GCON who retires from office on 10th November, 2016.
Source: The Nation


Judges Invasion: NJC Statement INDICTS FG, DSS
The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday condemned the arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services (DSS).

It described the action as a threat to the independence of the Judiciary, which portends great danger to our democracy.

The judicial body also described the arrest of judges as a clear attempt by the DSS to humiliate, intimidate, denigrate and cow the Judiciary.


The NJC expressed its support the Federal Government’s commitment to the fight against corruption, but insisted that due process must be adhered to.

The NJC, in a statement late last night, said it had nominated the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court as the successor to Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who will retire on November 10.

“Council meticulously considered the entire unfolding events that led to the arrest of the Judicial Officers and the misinformation and disinformation making rounds in both Electronic and Print Media that the DSS acted thus because the National Judicial Council was shielding the Judicial Officers from investigation and prosecution for corrupt practices and professional misconduct.

“Council noted particularly, that from the available records, the DSS forwarded only two (2 no.) separate complaints containing allegations of Corrupt Practices against Hon. Justice Pindiga; and corrupt practices and professional misconduct against Hon. Justice Dimgba.

“The impression created and widely circulated before the public; that the DSS forwarded a number of petitions containing various allegations of corrupt practices and professional misconduct against some Judicial Officers to the Council, and they were not investigated, is not correct.  The Council urges the DSS to make public the particulars of such petitions to put the records straight.

“Given the above background facts, on behalf of the Judiciary, Council is constrained to inform the general public that all petitions and complaints forwarded against Judicial Officers bordering on corrupt practices and professional misconduct, have been attended to and investigated, where applicable, by Council since year 2000 to date, within the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“Therefore, any Judicial Officer that was reprimanded by Council or recommended for removal from office by compulsory retirement or dismissal to the President or Governor, was done in compliance with the Constitutional power, Rule of Law and Due Process.

“From year 2000, when the National Judicial Council held its inaugural Meeting to 2016, 1808 petitions and complaints against Judicial Officers, including Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justices of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal were received by the respective Honourable, the Chief Justices of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council.  Eighty-two (82 No.) of the Judicial Officers were reprimanded (suspension, caution or warning), by Council, in the exercise of its exclusive Constitutional Disciplinary power over Judicial Officers. Thirty-eight (38 No.) of the Judicial Officers were recommended to the President or Governor where applicable, for compulsory retirement from office; while twelve (12 No.) were recommended to the President or Governor as the case may be, for dismissal from office.

“In conclusion, Council wishes to state 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 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.
  • The Council vehemently denounces a situation whereby the Psyche of Judicial Officers in the Federation is subjected to a level where they would be afraid to discharge their Constitutional judicial functions, without fear or favour, intimidation, victimization or suppression.
  • The Council will not compromise the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary.
  • The Council wishes to reassure the public that any person who has a genuine complaint against any Judicial Officer is at liberty to bring it up to the Council for consideration, after following due process vide its Judicial Discipline Regulations.
  • At the end of the Meeting, Council unanimously agreed to recommend Hon. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, CFR, as the most senior, suitable and competent Justice of the Supreme Court to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for appointment as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria to succeed Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed GCON who retires from office on 10th November, 2016.
Source: The Nation


DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges
The Nigerian Lawyer - Recall DSS had, in what it called a sting operation, arrested Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, both of the Supreme Court; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Other arrested were a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, and Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.

How I Increase My Blokos Size & Stopped Premature Ejaculation Issues That Scattered My Relationship For 2years.. Click HERE for Details 


Magistrate Court of FCT issued Search Warrants used in nabbing corrupt judges released/ 1.

Below is the copy of the Warrants

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges
The Nigerian Lawyer - Recall DSS had, in what it called a sting operation, arrested Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, both of the Supreme Court; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Other arrested were a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, and Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.

How I Increase My Blokos Size & Stopped Premature Ejaculation Issues That Scattered My Relationship For 2years.. Click HERE for Details 


Magistrate Court of FCT issued Search Warrants used in nabbing corrupt judges released/ 1.

Below is the copy of the Warrants

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges

DSS Corrupt Judges Invasion: See Copies Of Court ISSUED Search Warrants Against The Judges


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