How Nigeria judges were arrested for alleged corruption

- The homes of some Nigerian judges were raided by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) while some of them were arrested

- Huge sums of money both in foreign currencies were allegedly discovered from just three of the arrested judges

- Some of the arrests are reportedly linked to Governor Nyesom Wike while the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP was also indicted

The two arrested Supreme Court judges, Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro, are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and would be arraigned on Monday, October 10, 2016, according to information available to Legit.ng.

This is as fresh details from Sahara Reporters show that the arrest of the judges followed a petition that they allegedly received bribes from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state. It was learnt that the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC) had knowledge of the DSS action.

The judges, Leadership reports, would be arraigned for alleged corruption in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, just as it has been learnt that Justice Walter Onnoghen, primed to take over as the new chief justice of the nation, was not arrested.

The Leadership quoted Ahuraka Isah, an aide to the chief justice of Nigeria as confirming the arrest of Nwgwuta and Okoro and that Onnoghen was not involved.

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While it was learnt that Justice Adeniyi Ademola was arrested, his neighbor, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was not arrested but his official residence was searched.

According to Sahara Reporters, Justice Ngwuta allegedly traveled to Qatar to receive the bribe which he shared with Justice Okoro and others.

The bribe was allegedly for Governor Wike to win his election case which got to the Supreme Court.

When Justice Ngwunta’s house was raided, the DSS allegedly recovered N35,208 million, $319,475, 25,890 pounds and 280 Euros.

When the DSS stormed Justice Adeniyi Ademola’s residence, it was learnt that the judge told the security agents that he was not at home even though his cellphone showed his true location.

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He was later arrested in the home allegedly with N54 million cash, $171,779, 4,400 Euros, 1,010 Rupees, and 80 pounds.

Justice Okoro also had N4.35 million, $38,833 and 1000 Euros when his house was raided.

The report also said the two judges are said to own different properties in Abuja and Calabar with Justice Okoro reportedly building seven houses simultaneously in the latter city with the help of former Governor Godswill Akpabio and the current governor, Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom state.

The online medium quoted a source as mentioning Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt as the judge that was rescued by Governor Wike. His identity had been kept as secret.

According to findings in the report, Justice Liman allegedly collected $2 million from the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give a judgement against the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.

Liman was said to have received the fund in Ghana as it was transferred by Governor Wike and was shared between himself and chief judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Ibrahim Auta.

Justice Auta is said to have been arrested by a different team of DSS operatives in Kano.

It was learnt that Wike mobilized thugs to counter the DSS and help move the money that was to be found in the judge’s apartment.

At the home of Justice Dimgba Nnamdi, his brother was said to have been assaulted.

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The report said Justice Muazu Pindiga, was moved from Gombe to Abuja where he has been making useful confessions concerning his role in a bribery scheme over the Rivers state election tribunal from which he was removed as a judge.

The DSS also invaded the home of Justice Muhammad Ladan Tsamiya, an Appeal Court judge recently retired compulsorily but he was not at home.

The DSS gave the full amount recovered from the raid of three of the judges as:

1. NAIRA -         N93,558,000.00

2. DOLLARS -   $530,087

3. POUNDS -     £25,970

4. EURO -           €5,680

There were also various foreign currencies apart from the declared amount. The DSS also recovered bank and real estate documents.

Source: Legit.ng