A full list of all the Nigerian judges facing a nationwide
clampdown by the Department of State Security (DSS) has been obtained by
SaharaReports. The list, which includes
two of the Supreme Court Justices who have already been arrested, includes
three Justices of the Court of Appeal, seven Federal High Court justices and
four state High Court judges in Kano, Gombe, and Kaduna states.
The document, which formed the basis for the clampdown on
the judges, contains a brief explanation as to why the cleansing of the
judiciary should commence with the listed judges.
"Pursuant to the current administration's drive to
fight corruption at all levels, and following public revulsion at some section
of the judiciary on acts bordering on dishonesty, corruption, and abuse of
judicial process, a profile of some senior judicial officers alleged to be
involved in corrupt practices has been compiled", the reported prepared by
the DSS stated.
The document explains in graphic detail how Supreme Court
justices were compromised during the election petition ruling relating to
Governor Nysom Wike of Rivers state.
Although only two judges of the Supreme Court have so far
been arrested by the DSS, the documents named a full panel of Supreme Court
justices that sat to decide the Rivers state election case.
The document stated that the Supreme Court judgment which
gave Governor Wike victory against the Court of Appeal ruling which had
reversed Governor Wike election was delivered on January 27th, 2016 and the
full judgement further delivered on February 12th, 2016 by a panel that was led
by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad Mahmud.
Other panel members named included Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad,
Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Kumai Byang Akaahs, Kudirat Motonmori Olatokumbo
kekere-kun, John Inyang Okoro and Amiru Sanusi. Justice Kekere-Ekun delivered a
unanimous decision validating Wike's election.
The document reveals that the CJN constituted the panel on
the very day of the judgement in an attempt to frustrate those waiting to
induce members of the panel.
It also reveals that despite the strategy adopted by the
Chief Justice, the panel received monetary inducement through Justice Mary
Odili who, although a member of the Court, was not on the panel.
Justice Odili, according to the confidential report, became
dramatic and reportedly wept before her colleagues on the panel, saying that if
Wike were not returned as governor, she would prematurely become a widow as her
husband, Peter Odili is a former governor of the state, and Wike’s godfather
would have a heart attack.
Governor Wike has publicly acknowledged the role of the
Odilis in restoring his mandate as governor. During a thanksgiving to mark his
victory, he said that had the election been nullified, he would not have
re-contested, claiming he was close having a heart attack as his blood pressure
was rising.
The report obtained by SaharaReporters does not say how much
each of the Supreme Court judges received. It does state that the same amount
had been offered to the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab
Bulkachuwa, who rejected it, saying she feared that all eyes would be on her.
Dr. Odili on Tuesday took out an N6billion lawsuit against
APC candidate Dakuku for his statement concerning Wike’s praise of his role in
getting him a favorable legal ruling.
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