dss

The Department of State Services looks ready to charge the judges it arrested in its sting operation on Friday and Saturday to court. People & Power’s checks in Abuja revealed that the DSS hierarchy is very positive that a historic trial which will vindicate the action of the agency in arresting the judges may come out of their prosecution.

According to a source at the agency: “We (DSS) have our facts and our evidence. We are good to go even now. We are on a mission here and our interest is the survival of Nigeria. If corruption is not a security threat in a country like Nigeria at this time, then tell me what constitutes a security threat.”

However, it was also gathered that the seven judges who were arrested—Sylvester Ngwuta, John Okoro, Adeniyi Ademola, Kabiru Auta, A.I. Umezulike, Muazu Pindiga and Ibrahim Tsamiya—were on Sunday granted administrative bail. They were allowed to return to their homes but instructed to report back to the DSS on Monday morning which they did.

After spending time with the DSS on Monday, the judges were also allowed to return to their homes. People & Power found that the processes of investigation and interrogation at the agency were very much on. Another official source confirmed that the department was working to charge the judges to court.

The formal arraignment of the judges in court may involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and of course the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. However, People & Power could not confirm that.

It was also gathered that shortly before the judges were admitted to administrative bail which was based on self recognition, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed visited the DSS headquarters and briefly interacted with them. As Chief Justice, Mohammed is the head of all the judges in Nigeria.