FG Set to Prosecute 2 Supreme Court Justices and 7 Judges Indicted in Corruption Cases

The Federal Government is set for the prosecution of two Supreme Court Justices and seven other judges in spite of the memos written by three of them to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

The charges against the judges were ready at press time, following the conclusion of investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS), The Nation has learnt.

Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started probing the accounts of six judges of the Federal High Court who are undergoing interrogation.

The anti-graft commission has allegedly discovered payment of bribe sums/financial assistance into the accounts of two of the six judges. The Nation could not independently confirm this.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the DSS has gathered tons of evidence against the judges.

Those under investigation are two Supreme Court judges namely 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;  Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court);  Justice Bashir Sukola and  Justice Ladan Manir from the Kaduna State High Court.

Of the nine judges, the NJC has recommended sanctions for Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya; the erstwhile Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; and Justice Kabiru Auta.

A source said: “The Federal Government is going ahead with the trial of the nine judges. The charges and evidence against them are ready. I can tell you that the DSS has conducted diligent investigation.

“Even if you look at the list, only three out of the nine judges have joined issues with some people. But these issues have nothing to do with the overwhelming evidence against them.”

The source added: “The trial will enable Nigerians to know how the sting operations were conducted, the findings of DSS and the charges.

“If a judge alleges that DSS operatives planted money in his residence, did they also lodge cash in his account(s)?”