Arrest Of Judges Act Of Impunity, Abuse Of Power – Uwazurike

Nigerian News: Foremost lawyer and president-general of Igbo think-thank group, Aka-Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike has described the arrest of Supreme and High Court judges by the Department of State Services, DSS, as an act of impunity and gross violation of the judicial arm of government.

Uwazurike who stated this in statement, explained that both the judiciary and the legislature were independent arms of government whose actions are not subject to the whims of the executive.

“I am shocked that some people will act with impunity in this violation of the hallowed chambers of the judiciary.”

“The judiciary and the legislature are independent of the executive. It is preposterous for the executive to violate this sacred arm of government under any guise,” he said.

The lawyer explained that it was the job of National Judicial Council, NJC, to discipline corrupt judges and not that of the executive.

“The constitution took this situation in mind when it created the National Judicial Council to appoint, promote, discipline and recommend the retirement of judges. It did not leave it to the whims and caprices of people to cripple the judiciary.”

The DSS had in a commando style last week, reportedly arrested Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro, both of the Supreme Court bench, as well as Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja and equally conducted searches in the house of another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, but he was not arrested.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has already reacted to criticisms mounting against the arrests, stating that http://thewillnigeria.com/news/dss-obtained-warrants-garba-shehu-warns-media-to-report-issues-carefully/ the Service followed due process before embarking on the raid of the judges' houses.