BREAKING: Minister of justice supports arrest of judges; gives DETAILED reasons.

– Mr. Abubakar Malami said that The President Buhari administration is committed to eradicating corruption – The minister of justice backed the arrest of some judges during the weekend
– He said money recovered from corrupt people will be put into good use

Mr. Abubakar Malami who is the minister of justice and the attorney-general of the federation has shown his support for the raid and arrest of some judges by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) insisting that “no one is or should be above the law.” The raid was carried out in the early hours of Saturday, October 8 in some parts of the country leading to the arrest of Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Muazu Pindiga of Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.

Although they were subsequently granted bail and relased, their arrest caused reaction from some Nigerians with the Peoples Democratic Party describing President Muhammadu Buhari as a dictator. Vanguard reports that the minister of justice spoke when he inaugurated the Expert Review Committee on implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). He said: “Was there an allegation of crime? Was there relevant provision of criminal procedure responsible for investigation? “Is there an allegation of corruption? If there is, no body, no matter how highly placed will be spared.  “The right to investigate has not been taken away from the constitution. The allegation boarders on criminality and no one is or should be above the law.

Abubakar Malami has justified the arrest of the judges by DSS “Neither the judiciary or the executive will be exempted from investigation.” Malami promised that the President Buhari administration would make sure that recovered loot is put to good use. “No doubt, the extant review focusing on Chapter II and V of UNCAC relating to preventive measures against corruption in public and private sectors and assets recovery, is both necessary and timely at this time of the annals of country when endemic can systemic corruption has created a great disconnect between our nation’s wealth and the quality of life of ordinary citizens.  “As we are all aware, Nigeria is a state-party to UNCAC which is the first global legally binding international anti-corruption instrument.

“Fortunately, the objectives of UNCAC is in absolute synergy and harmony with one of the cardinal objectives of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which is to fight corruption in all its ramified manifestations including adopting effective preventive measured against corruption, recovery of stolen assets and putting in place systems and processes to profitably manage the stolen but recovered assets.  “It is thus necessary that members if this Committee understands the important task of nation-building which is about to be committed into their hands. “Your contributions will no doubt translate into massive political goodwill and will snowball into successes in place setting as it relates to the fight against corruption. “Let me emphasise that the guiding principles of the review is non-adversarial, non-punitive and not aimed at ranking state parties”. Meanwhile, the African Bar Association expressed shock over the arrests of judges in Nigeria by the Department of State Security. AFBA president, Hannibal Uwaifo, said that the action of the DSS was a violation of the principles of the rule of law and tenets of separation of power.


NAIJ.com