Apparently in a move to clean the nation’s judiciary system; the Federal Government last night began rounding up judges suspected to have involved in any kind of corruption over the years.
Specifically, the arrest of the judges carried out by operatives from the Department of Security Services (DSS), was in relation to those who allegedly took huge cash to pervert the cause of justice before, during and after the 2015 general elections.
According to a source who preferred anonymity, “Two Supreme Court justices, who allegedly played roles in subverting judgement in favour of one of the two leading political parties in Akwa Ibom State and one other state in the South East were among those taken into custody yesterday night”.
Three judges from Sokoto, Bauchi and Kano were also taken into custody for allegedly collecting bribes, according to a top source involved in the operation.
Also taken into custody last night, were some suspected fraudulent court registrars, believed to have aided and abetted the sale of justice
Another federal high court judge, who lives in Apo area of Abuja was said to have had his house surrounded by DSS operatives as at the time of going to press but the secret police could not break in.
A judge who recently freed a retired Air Force officer accused of taking bribes running into billions of Naira was said to be scared and was calling for help because armed security men surrounded his house .
Meanwhile, one of the top Federal Ministry of Justice officials said last night: “The Federal Government has commenced the arrest and detention of some corrupt judges as part of its effort to cleanse the judiciary.
“This exercise has just begun and it will continue until the bad eggs are flushed out to give the country a new lease of life. ”The operation may not be concluded tonight but I can assure you that we will carry it to a logical conclusion in the overall interest of the nation,” the official said.
