I have just finished reading the press statement by the National Judicial Council, NJC, as published by all the media platforms, including The Trent. There is absolutely no surprise in the revelations concerning how the critical organs of the Muhammadu Buhari-led government have been operating in persistent vengefulness, falsehood, tribalism, nepotism and lawlessness. This is vintage Buhari and lies!
From the NJC’s press statement, it is clear that almost all the judges arrested by the DSS were either not petitioned against at all as falsely claimed by the DSS or had been exonerated by the lack of any evidence presented by the DSS. The DSS actually ignored the judges who were investigated, found culpable and recommended by the NJC to government for punitive action, but, instead, went after innocent judges — who had been investigated and exonerated!
This is characteristic of the hypocrisy of President Buhari, the APC, their supporters and apologists — mouthing half-digested rhetoric on corruption while actually condoning and perpetrating egregious acts of corruption in pursuit of vendetta!
Here is an easy-to-read summary of the NJC’s findings:
ARRESTED BY THE DSS
i. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta
ii. Justice Inyang Okoro
According to the NJC, there was no petition at all by the DSS against the above judges. They were not under any investigation because of that.
NOT PETITIONED/ARRESTED BY DSS
iii. Justice Muhammad L.
Tsamiya
The above judge was suspended from office by the NJC and recommended for compulsory retirement after investigations found him guilty of demanding, but not receiving, a bribe of N200 million from one Nnamdi Iro Oji. President Buhari approved the recommendation. Note that it was the NJC, not the DSS, which initiated this disciplinary process.
NOT PETITIONED/ARRESTED BY THE DSS
iv. Justice I. A. Umezulike(Chief
Judge of Enugu State)
This Enugu State Chief Judge was found culpable of gross misconduct from a petition against him to the NJC by one Peter Eze. He was suspended by the NJC and recommended to the Enugu State Governor for compulsory retirement. The Governor has not yet taken action.
NOT PETITIONED/ARRESTED BY THE DSS
v. Justice A. F. A. Ademola
This judge was petitioned against to the NJC by one Hon Jenkins Gwebe on allegations of corruption. Those allegations are currently being investigated by the NJC.
NOT PETITIONED/ARRESTED BY THE DSS
vi. Justice Kabiru Auta
This judge was investigated for corruption by the NJC on allegations by one Kabiru Yakassai, and found guilty. He was suspended, and recommended to the State Governor for sack, and the police AIG for prosecution.
NOT ARRESTED BY THE DSS
vii. Justice Muazu Pindiga
This judge was petitioned by the DSS on allegations of corrupt enrichment without any supporting affidavit as required by law. Note that this is the judge who accused the APC of trying to influence the judgement against Wike after he was replaced in the Rivers State gubernatorial election tribunal.
The NJC asked the DSS to support their petition with an affidavit, and they later did so. But after thorough investigations INVOLVING BOTH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DSS AND THE JUDGE, he was found NOT GUILTY because the DSS could NOT substantiate ANY of its claims. Note that Pindiga was not arrested by the DSS. Thus, it was indeed Daura’s DSS which tried to corrupt this fearless judge, but he resisted it.
ARRESTED BY DSS
viii. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba
This judge was petitioned against by the DSS on the 5th of August, 2016, and on the 29th of September, 2016, the NJC set up a panel to investigate the allegations and the panel had started work but the Government of Muhammadu Buhari could not wait for the panel to submit its findings before they invaded his residence and arrested him.
CONCLUSION
i. The DSS and the Government of President Buhari ACTUALLY MOVED AGAINST ONLY THE JUDGES IT DID NOT PETITION AGAINST OR THOSE WHO WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY AFTER INVESTIGATIONS. The DSS actually ignored the real corrupt judges who had been recommended for punishment after investigations by the NJC.
ii. In other words, Buhari’s DSS INVADED AND ARRESTED ONLY THE JUDGES IT PERCEIVED WERE AGAINST THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS(APC), BUT WHO WERE NOT, BASED ON INVESTIGATIONS, GUILTY OF ANY CORRUPTION.
iii. President Buhari’s DSS is NOT AT ALL INTERESTED IN ANY FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION BY JUDGES AGAINST ORDINARY NIGERIANS, AS WE SEE IN THE ABOVE CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL. RATHER, THE DSS IS ONLY AFTER THOSE WHO DELIVER JUDGEMENTS AGAINST PERCEIVED ‘APC INTERESTS’.
President Buhari and the APC are completely unhinged.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU NIGERIA’S BRAND OF ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR!
Garvey Ufot, Ph.D., teaches at the Department of English, University of Uyo. He is a conscientious academic and conscious Rastafarian who seeks only the truth at all times. His mission is to educate Nigerians and expose fraud and deception in all levels of government. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
