Fight against Corruption Update: Nigeria Justices under probe, have withdrew their services of sitting at the apex court while proceedings are going on

Nigeria Justices of the Supreme Court, Justice  Sylva Ngwuta and Justice John Inyang Okoro have withdrawn their services of sitting at the Nigerian apex court while proceedings are in session.

According to Punch reports, the two Justices voluntarily withdrew their services as investigation is in progress after the Department of State Services (DSS) found some huge sums of money in their homes some weeks back, until their names are cleared, they will not participate in court cases, the two Justices said.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria Mahmud Mohammed made the announcement while meeting with some delegates of the Nigerian Bar Association in his chambers on Thursday, October 27.

"The CJN made it clear that the NJC could never have suspended the arrested judges in the absence of any evidence presented by their accusers.

"The CJN said the DSS, which levelled allegations against the judges, had not presented any evidence against them to the NJC on which any possibility of suspending them could be based.

"But he said the two affected Justices of the Supreme Court had, on their own, recused (withdrawn) themselves from sitting until when they are able to clear their names.

"The CJN made it clear that the two Justices of the Supreme Court were not on suspension,” a source at the meeting told Punch. The source added: “They were able to explain the positions they each took to each other more clearly. 

"The CJN explained why the NJC could not suspend the affected judges in the absence of any evidence. 

"The NBA president, on his part, also explained that he actually did not call for the suspension of the judges but that he only called on the affected judges to recuse themselves until they were able to clear their names.

"The NBA president said the association’s position was to save the institution because having judges with corruption allegations hanging over their heads or even arraigned for criminal offences still sitting, would cause a lot of collateral damage to the institution of the judiciary.

"But the NBA stuck to its condemnation of the procedure adopted by the DSS without recourse to the NJC."

"The CJN cited an instance when the NJC recommended to a state governor the compulsory retirement of a judge, but the governor never approved the recommendation.

"At the end of the day the judge remained on the bench until he attained his statutory retirement age and he is now entitled to getting his full retirement benefits."

Supreme Court of Nigeria was stormed by some protesters demanding the suspension of the justices under detention for corruption charges should not partake in any proceedings until their names are cleared by the Department of State Service, (DSS).

The protesters were chanting with placards saying: "Stop corruption before it stops you,"

"Don’t get it twisted, Judiciary is not on trial, only corrupt officials are."

However the current administration have vowed to make sure the judiciary is cleared of corrupt officials.