The Southern and Middle Belt Alliance (SaMBA) has warned against continuous harassment of Judges from Southern region of the Country by the Security Agencies advising the Security Agencies to follow due process by routing whatever complaint they may have to Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC).
SaMBA notes that No agency of Government is above the law of the Land and calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately issue official queries to any arm of the security agencies found to be acting unilaterally without following due process. The Group further urged President Buhari to lead by example.
In a press statement issued today and signed by Prince Rwang Pam Jnr. following the invasion of the house of Justice Mary Odili by Security Agencies on Friday, SaMBA’s official spokesman condemned the conduct of the Security Agencies as undemocratic and unprofessional.
The group recalled that in 2016, the invasion of the residence of some Judges from SAMBA Regions including Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court, and Nnamdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola, of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court. SaMBA also recalled unholy removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen ahead of 2019 General Election.
The Group further warned against any plan to set up of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who is due to succeed the Incumbent CJN in office.
The statement further reads, “The continuous harassment of Judges from Southern Nigeria can no longer be acceptable. It is disheartening that Security Agencies could invade the residence of Justice of Supreme Court without due diligence or following laid down procedure.
“The question that begs for answer is that why the residence of Justice Mary Odili was invaded when the case of collection of VAT by Lagos and Rivers states at the Supreme Court is pending; is it an attempt to intimidate the judge snd force her to give Judgement in favour of the Federal Government?
“Intimidation of our judiciary amounts to attempt to compromise the independence of our third arm of governance.
“We therefore totally condemn this blatant attempt to intimidate and corrupt the judiciary and strongly advice Mr Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to immediately fish out the culprits and make sure that adequate punishment is meted out to them to avoid future reoccurrence.
“The Nigeria populace will resist and attempt to northernize the Judiciary or any attempt to intimidate and frustrate Judges from Southern and Middle Belt region”, the statement concluded.
