Reacting to the latest stand of the Nigeria Bar Association, directing the indicted judges to step aside while the court processes are in progress, the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami was quoted as saying that no country tolerate w situation where a few people to constitute themselves into a cabal that is ‘above the law.’
The Attorney General insisted that the judges accused of corruption must face immediate prosecution so as not to give the erroneous impression that government is promoting corruption.
The AGF had expected the National Judiciary Council (NJC) to suspend the suspected corrupt judicial officers from duty, pending the trial and disposal of the criminal allegations levelled against them but failed.
Rather than comply with the AGF, the NJC slammed the DSS for daring to search the homes of the judges in the night and making away with huge cash in local and foreign currencies claiming to have omnibus powers over both criminal and administrative matters relating to judges in Nigeria.
It was learnt that the refusal of the NJC to suspend the suspected judges was interpreted to be a ‘slap’ on the Federal Government.
Information emanating from the office of the Attorney General indicated that the trial of the seven judges would be carried out in phases and handled by the National Prosecution Council, which was recently inaugurated.
The seven judges are among the 15 identified by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for involvement in corrupt practices. [myad]
Home NEWS Federal Govt. Accuses National Judicial Council Of Constituting Itself Into Above-The-Law Cabal
