Judges arrest: Rights group sues DSS over right to investigate corruption cases

ABUJA—The Registered Trustees of Advocates for Peoples Right and Justice, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to determine whether the Department of State Service, DSS, has the constitutional powers to investigate corruption allegations.

The group, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/851/2016, further urged the court to determine, “Whether the DSS, is empowered by its statue to arrest serving judicial officers on an allegation of the offence of bribery, corruption and professional misconduct? “Whether the DSS can validly procure a warrant of arrest for such offence as bribery, corruption and professional misconduct against serving judicial officers.” In the event that the court answers the questions in the negative, the plaintiff, through its National Coordinator, Mr. Victor Giwa, sought for, “A declaration that the arrest of serving judicial officers, namely: Hon. Justice Ngwuta Sylvester, Hon. Justice Okoro Inyang, Justices of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Hon. Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Justice of the Federal High Court of Nigeria is illegal, unconstitutional and ultra-vires the defendant’s powers.