The Department of State
Services (DSS) in the past few days has embarked on series of special sting
operations involving some Judges of the Supreme, Appeal and High Courts.
These operations were based
on allegations of corruptions and other acts of professional misconduct by a
few of the suspected Judges.
The
Service action is in line with its core mandate, as we have been monitoring the
expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the Judges as well as complaints
from the concerned public over judgment obtained fraudulently and on the basis
amounts of money paid.
The judges involved
were invited, upon which due diligence was exhibited and their premises
searched. The searches have uncovered huge raw cash of various denominations,
local and foreign currencies, with real estate worth several millions of naira
and documents affirming unholy acts by these Judges.
Meanwhile, some of them have made useful
statements while a few have declined even with the glaring evidences that were
found against them in terms of material cash, documents and property recovered
pointing to their compromise.
In one of the States
where the Service operations were conducted, credible intelligence revealed
that the Judge had Two Million United States Dollars ($2,000,000 USD) stashed
in his house.
When he was approached for
due search to be conducted, he in concert with the State Governor, mobilized
thugs against the Service team.
The team restrained itself
in the face of unbridled provocative activities by those brought in by the
Governor. Unfortunately, the Judge and Governor also engaged the tacit support
of a sister security agency.
The Service
surveillance team noticed that upon frustrating the operation, the Judge with
the active support of the Governor craftily moved the money to an unknown
location which the Service is currently making effort to unravel.
Meanwhile, large
amount including foreign/local currencies have been recovered. Summaries of
these include:
SUMMARY OF RECOVERED MONEY
1. NAIRA - N93,558,000.00
2. DOLLARS - $530,087
3. POUNDS - £25,970
4. EURO - €5,680
SUMMARY OF RECOVERED MONEY
1. NAIRA - N93,558,000.00
2. DOLLARS - $530,087
3. POUNDS - £25,970
4. EURO - €5,680
Other foreign
currencies were also recovered. This were recovered from just three (3) of the
judges.
These in addition to
other banking documents, including real estate documents have been recovered.
Meanwhile preparations are ongoing to arraign them in a competent court of
jurisdiction in line with the laws of the nation.
The Service would want to clearly state that it has never
invited Justice Walter NKANU ONNOGHEN for investigation; neither is he being
investigated by this Service.
In addition the Service
would like to put it on record, that it has tremendous respect for the
Judiciary and would not do anything to undermine it or its activities.
The Service will also join
hands with this noble institution in its fight to rid it of few corrupt Judges
whose actions is undermining not only the Judiciary but the common bond of our
national life.
Ladies and gentlemen,
this current operation will be sustained and followed till sanity and sanctity
is restored to the esteemed third arm of government and public confidence is
regained.
Members of the public
are also encouraged to avail the Service of any information which could assist
in this drive to rid our nation of corrupt practices and tendencies.
THANK YOU.
Abdullahi GARBA,
Department of State Services,
Abuja.
8th October, 2016.
Abdullahi GARBA,
Department of State Services,
Abuja.
8th October, 2016.
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