Politics
JUDGES ARREST: You were wrong, Afe Babalola, Fayose tell DSS
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola, has berated the Department of State Services, DSS, over the arrest of some judges in the country.
Babalola spoke alongside the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday, at the foundation laying ceremony of the new Ekiti State High Court complex in Ado Ekiti.
According to Babalola, the normal thing that should have been done if the judges were found to have done something offensive, was to report them to the National Judicial Council for disciplinary action.
The senior advocate also wondered why the judges were released on bail on personal recognition after the DSS raids, querying the motive behind the move.
He said: “Then why did you then decide to harass their families? The DSS has no right to take over the responsibility of the police.
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“If people have evidence against judges, they should report to the NJC. How can you arrest a sitting judge and take him before a magistrate to try him?
“There is nowhere in the world you try a sitting judge. You don’t take a sitting judge to court and even the law stipulates that no court process can be served after 7pm.
“It is when the judges are sacked that you take them to court for prosecution. We are not opposed to the fight against corruption, but that due process must be followed”, Babalola said.
Speaking in the same vein, Governor Fayose, even if the affected judges stole “the whole world,” due process must be followed in bringing them to justice.
“If we do not allow due process, the DSS will soon descend on other arms of government and innocent people. They may soon descend on the media and others because of the feelings that they are not doing their biddings. I won’t approach any judge for assistance or to subvert justice in any way whatsoever,” he said.
By Timothy Enietan-Matthews
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