Mahmud Mohammed, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, on Monday, October 10, 2016 broke his silence on the illegal crackdown on justices of the Supreme Court and some federal judges in the country by the Department of State Security Services, DSS.
Justice Mohammed said that the DSS action against the judges over the weekend was “very saddening”, “deeply regrettable” and a “distressing and unfortunate” incident.
In the early hours of Saturday, October 8, 2016, operatives of the county’s secret police invaded the homes of a number of senior judges and abducted some of them from the homes under the guise of an anti-corruption battle.
“My lords, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, not to detract from this occasion, it is indeed very saddening and deeply regrettable, the distressing and unfortunate incident which occurred on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, 2016,” Mohammed said at the valedictory court session held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Suleiman Galadima
Justice Mohammed confirmed that on Tuesday the National Judicial Council (NJC) would meet to take a position on the incident.
“I must ask all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, as emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council, which will take place tomorrow (Tuesday), will comprehensively look into the matter,” he said.
“Furthermore, I must express my sincere appreciation to the executive of the Nigerian Bar Association ably led by the President, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, and indeed all members of the legal profession for their prompt action and continued support.”
Justices John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta were the two supreme court justices targeted in the despotic action by the DSS acting on the orders of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.
