An Abakaliki-based lawyer, John Onwe has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation (Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN), Director of State Security Services (DSS) (Lawal Musa Daura), Inspector-General of Police (Ibrahim Idris), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Judicial Council(NJC) to court over the arrest, detention and prosecution of some Appeal and Supreme Court Justices for alleged corruption.
DSS operatives had invaded between October 7 and 8 last year, invaded residences of some Judges, including Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, Justice Muazu Pindiga, Justice Nwali Ngwuta and Justice John Inyang Okoro and arrested them
Some of the judges, including Justice Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, are still standing trial.
In protest over the arrest, Onwe filed a suit at the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki.
Some of the defendants including President Buhari, the Attorney –General, DSS, IGP and NJC have been served, while the EFCC have not been served and have reacted to Onwe’s suit dated FHC/A1/CS/112017.
In their counter affidavit in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons, Counsel to President Buhari and Attorney-General of the Federation, Balla Ali said: “It is not true that the orders for the act of siege and invasion of the residences of the said judges and justices of the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court of Nigeria were made by the 1st Defendant, (Buhari), neither did the 2 Defendant (AG) issue any such statement owing or accepting responsibility for giving orders or directives authorizing the Department of State Security operatives or agents to carry out any act of siege nor invasion.”
When the matter came up for preliminary hearing Friday, the
Presiding Judge, Justice Akintola Aluko insisted that EFCC must be served before the matter can commence for proper hearing and adjourned till June 12 for hearing.
