One of the seven judges arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, has admitted that he took bribes running into millions of naira.
A DSS source revealed that the judge on being confronted with the proof of the N500 million bribe he collected prostrated before the DSS boss and begged him not to expose him.
He was rolling on the floor and this was captured, the source told The Nation newspaper.
The judge had refused to unlock the safe in his house for DSS operatives to have access to its contents.
The DSS, however, plans to take possession of the safe to uncover its contents, the source said.
It was gathered that the agency has been questioning bank chiefs and directors over links with some of the alleged corrupt judges.
Those arrested were two Supreme Court Justices – Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro; – the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; and Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court).
The source said: “Corruption in the Judiciary was based on our intelligence gathering and alerts from informants and petitions. It is not based on the perception of Nigerians. We have been on the trail of some of these judges in the last few months.
“For instance, we started probing one of the seven judges in detention since the Ramadan period of 2015. When we got sufficient intelligence on him, bordering on over N500 million bribe, we invited him.
“The judge was given a copy of our report on him. By the time he read it halfway, he prostrated, held the legs of the security chief (Lawan Daura) and begged for forgiveness. We captured the way he was reeling on the floor.
“We later sent a security brief on him to the National Judicial Council (NJC) with enough evidence. But he was cleared by the NJC as having committed no wrong. Since the NJC could not do the needful, we have decided to subject him to a judicial process.
“We also have a case of one of the judges who refused to unlock a safe in his house when our operatives went to his house. We may actually secure the leave of the court to relocate the safe to Abuja.
“Another detained judge got a contract from Bauchi State Government and obtained a loan from a bank. But when he defaulted in paying back the facility, the bank filed an action against him before the Federal High Court in Bauchi. What is the business of a judge with contract?”
Another source gave insights into the ongoing operation against 15 judges by the DSS.
“We are digging more and getting fresh revelations from these judges. For instance, a Federal High Court judge in detention actually spread the N54 million and $171,779 recovered from his residence in different rooms. He kept them in different parts of the rooms like a thief.”
“There is no immunity conferred on judges, we are only duty bound to protect the court because it is a sacred place, a temple of justice. Once you have issues, you go to court but immediately a judge is outside the court, he or she is like you and me.
“There is nothing unusual about the arrest of judges other than it has not been the practice. But it is normal. Once a petition is lodged, it is normal that you just have to look into it as a security agency.”
“We have started looking into allegations against some banks; we have torn all banks apart. Some bank chiefs have been coming to the DSS office in Abuja for clarifications on some transactions we are investigating.
“Every week, not less than three bank officials come here. We will let you know the outcome soon.”
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