Senate Condemns Invasion Of Judges’ Residence By DSS …Blocks Request To Summons DSS DG

0
698
Chief Justice of Nigeria

By Nuel Suji – The Senate on Tuesday condemned the invasion‎ of Judges’ residence by men of the Department of State Security (DSS) over allegation of corruption.

The Senate however kicked against request to summon the Director General of DSS, Lawal Daura to explain why his men invaded the Judges residence without recourse to National Judicial Council (NJC).

Chief Justice of Nigeria
Chief Justice of Nigeria

The decision of Senate was sequel to motion of Urgent National importance under order 42 and 52 of Senate’s Rules moved by Senator Joshua Lidani.

Sen. Lidani, in a point of order raised over the unlawful arrests of Judges by the official of the Department of State Security, expressed full support of the senate for the fight against corruption by the Buhari’s Administration, but decried the unlawful approach adopted by the DSS .

Lidani said‎, “The fight against corruption should be done within the confines of the law .

“The senate supports the fight against corruption but with strict observance to the principles of separation of power.”

Seconding the motion, Senator Dino Melaye said it was wrong for DSS to invade the Judges’ residence without recourse to judiciary.

Melaye while speaking in support of the motion said‎,” it is true that there is corruption in the judiciary and this truth was established last week by the expulsion of three judges by the NJC. Mr President, it is also a celestial truth that judges have been dishing out what I called commercial rulings.

“It is also a fundamental truth that judges need to face the full wrath of the law especially where the issues of corruption is concerned. This senate therefore will continue to celebrate the war against corruption either in the judiciary, the legislature or the executive.

“I support the fight against corruption irrespective of who is involved either a supreme court judge, judge of the court of appeal or of the high court or even magistrate. But why I support the fight against corruption, it is a misnormal, it is absurd for the Department of State Security Services to operate outside their mandate.

“The responsibility of the State Security Services is clearly defined in the National Security Agencies Act 2010, Cap 350 which states clearly that the state security services shall be charged with the responsibility for the prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against internal security of Nigeria. I emphasised the “Internal Security of Nigeria”.

“The second responsibility as enshrined by the law setting up the DSS states that the protection and preservation of non-military classified matters concerning again the internal security of Nigeria.”

It was gathered that in Preparatory to their arrests, the DSS on October 5, 2016, had obtained search warrants from a magistrate’s court in Abuja for Justices Nnamdi Dimgba, Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, A.A. Ademola and John Inyang Okoro.

In the search warrants all the judges were alleged to have engaged in corrupt practices, falsehood and under-declaration of assets.

In his remarks, Senate President, ‎Bukola Saraki said.”We must eradicate corruption in all spheres of our society and this is a matter that we must continue.

“I think the National Assembly has been playing its role to continue to support government in its fight against corruption.

“We must ensure that this fight against corruption is within the rule of law, any act of anti corruption action that goes against the rule of law does not help the corruption fight.

“That is why this action as has been seen in this manner is condemned by the Senate and all agencies of government must ensure that they act within the rule of law.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here