Just In: Nigeria Supreme Court Judges Alleged Of Corruption Step Aside

The spokesperson of Nigeria’s Supreme Court, Ahuraka Isah, on has confirmed reports that two Supreme Court judges accused of corruption
have stopped sitting.

The two judges, Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Nguta, were among seven
judges arrested by operatives of the State Security Service, following
allegations of corruption.

In a telephone chat with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Isah, who speaks for the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, said the Supreme Court judges
suspended sittings since the raid on their homes and their subsequent
arrest.

“None of the judges whose houses were raided and arrested by the SSS
have been suspended by the NJC,” the spokesperson said. “But the two
affected Supreme Court justices voluntarily recused themselves from all
judicial functions since the raid occurred.”

Seven judges were on October 7 arrested by the SSS following allegations of corruption.

While the affected judges have denied any wrongdoing, claiming
victimisation for previous stands they took against public officials,
the SSS said their arrest followed credible information about the
judges’ alleged involvement in bribery and corruption allegations.

The SSS also accused the National Judicial Council of not judiciously
treating petitions against corrupt judges. The NJC denied the
allegation by the SSS.

Various groups have given divergent opinions about the raids and
arrest of the judges. While some have commended the arrests, others have
accused the executive of interfering with the judiciary by the arrests.

However, the President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Abubakar
Mahmoud, had advised that the accused judges be suspended pending when
they are cleared or convicted.

The NJC rejected Mr. Mahmoud’s advice.