It is frightening to note that virtually all the judges being stung by the Department of State Security have at one time or the other given judgments or restraining orders or made remarks considered unfavourable to the interest of the Buhari administration. Let’s look at Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja. I can still recall that he ordered that detained former National Security adviser, Sambo Dasuki be released on bail. He granted the ex-NSA bail on November 3, 2015, in the charge of unlawful possession of firearms, contrary to federal government’s opposition. The bail was scuttled by the DSS operatives, who laid siege to Dasuki’s Asokoro residence on the second day and placed him under house arrest. Justice Ademola severely tongue-lashed the DSS for disobeying court orders.
On May 26, 2016, Justice Ademola
dismissed Buhari’s preliminary objection in a suit filed by a lawyer,
Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe concerning Buhari’s certificate issue.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, whose house was invaded, had equally severely excoriated the DSS for disobeying court orders. He once told the DSS not to appear in his court again if the agency would not obey court orders.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, whose house was invaded, had equally severely excoriated the DSS for disobeying court orders. He once told the DSS not to appear in his court again if the agency would not obey court orders.
Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal
High Court, Port Harcourt restrained the Independent National Electoral
Commission from announcing “any results or figures howsoever generated
or compiled purporting to be the result of the rerun election for any or
all of Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Eleme and Tai local government
areas of Rivers State or any part of the rerun election conducted on
March 19, 2016.”
A depressed Justice Liman remarked after
$2 million was allegedly stashed in his house: “I believe most of the
members heard or read about the reported raid in Port Harcourt and my
name has been mentioned as the judge in whose house $2 million was
stashed. The truth is that all that you’ve read is more of
misinformation and disinformation; substantially untrue account.
However, I feel distressed that the DSS indirectly claimed they have
evidence I stashed $2m, and when contacted, I employed thugs and with
Governor Wike to obstruct them from carrying out the search and that I
later transferred the money to an unknown place.
“Unfortunately, I have found myself in
the middle of a dirty politics between Wike and the Federal Government
and perhaps my notoriety for delivering controversial judgments; because
the cases are also controversial and the stakes probably very high. I’m
not asking anybody to believe or disbelieve whether I stashed $2m, an
amount that is equivalent to about N1billion.
Perhaps you might think the DSS probably
exaggerated the amount, but all these would have been relevant
considerations if they had actually searched my house. If I had $2m or
even a quarter of it, I would have abandoned this horrible profession
that has lost its dignity. In fact, I have already lost interest in it
and have made up my mind to say bye-bye to it. I believe there is a life
beyond every other thing.”
Another stung judge, Justice Muazu
Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division was the one that
insisted on due process in the Rivers State Governorship Election
Tribunal sittings. He was removed midway into the sitting of the
tribunal.
Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang
Okoro, both of the Supreme Court sat on some governorship election
appeals that gave decisions against the ruling APC. Are all these
co-incidents? This is food for thought for us this morning. Lovers of
democracy and the rule of law must stand up for the independence of the
Judiciary.
THISDAY
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