FG set for trial of Supreme Court Justices, seven others
The Federal Government is set for the prosecution of
two Supreme Court Justices and seven other judges
in spite of the memos written by three of them to the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud
Mohammed.

The charges against the judges were ready at press
time, following the conclusion of investigation by the
Department of State Services (DSS), Our source has
learned.
Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) has started probing the accounts of six judges
of the Federal High Court who are undergoing
interrogation.
The anti-graft commission has allegedly discovered
payment of bribe sums/financial assistance into the
accounts of two of the six judges. The Nation could
not independently confirm this.
Investigation by some news agencies revealed that
the DSS has gathered tons of evidence against the
judges.

Those under investigation are two Supreme Court
judges namely Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang
Okoro; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court
of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan
Tsamiya, who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice
Adeniyi Ademola (Federal High Court); the Chief
Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Justice
Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; Justice Muazu
Pindiga (Gombe State High Court); Justice Bashir
Sukola and Justice Ladan Manir from the Kaduna
State High Court.
Of the nine judges, the NJC has recommended
sanctions for Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya; the
erstwhile Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A.
Umezulike; and Justice Kabiru Auta.
A source said: “The Federal Government is going
ahead with the trial of the nine judges. The charges
and evidence against them are ready. I can tell you
that the DSS has conducted diligent investigation.
“Even if you look at the list, only three out of the nine
judges have joined issues with some people. But
these issues have nothing to do with the
overwhelming evidence against them.”
The source added: “The trial will enable Nigerians to
know how the sting operations were conducted, the
findings of DSS and the charges.
“If a judge alleges that DSS operatives planted money
in his residence, did they also lodge cash in his
account(s)?”
NBA demands justice
It was further learnt that snippets of the findings
were presented to the executives of the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA) with the bar deciding that justice
must run its full course.
The bar has also asked that the judges being probed
should step aside.
“This investigation was tight and it is in the public
interest for the trial to begin as soon as possible,” the
source said.
The six judges of the Federal High Court who were
interrogated during the week and whose accounts
are being scrutinised by the EFCC are Justices
Mohammed Nasir Yunusa; Hyeladzira Ajiya
Nganjiwa; Musa Haruna Kurya; Agbadu James
Fishim; Uwani Abba Aji; and Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
A source in the anti-graft agency said: “We are
looking into the accounts of all the judges so far
quizzed by our team, based on petitions and
preliminary investigations.
“It is too early to disclose our findings. But the
affected judges have made statements in line with
the law.”
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had in February
sanctioned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for
misconduct on the bench.
The Council also barred her from elevation to the
Court of Appeal or taking any judicial appointment.
A statement by the Acting Director of Information of
NJC, Mr. Soji Oye said: “The NJC, under the
chairmanship of Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at its
meeting on February 24 and 25, 2016 decided to warn
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and put her on the
“watch-list” of the council for the next four years.
“The judge will also not be considered for any
elevation to the Court of Appeal or any ad hoc
judicial appointment till her retirement from the
Bench.
“The decision was sequel to the petition written
against her by Victoria Ayeni, alleging misconduct
and injustice on the part of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia
for failing to deliver judgment in Suit No FHC/AB/
CS/31/2011, a pre-election matter between Victoria A.
A. Ayeni and Olusola Sonuga and two Ors.
“She was also alleged to have adjourned the pre-
election matter severally until the termination of the
life span of the Ogun State House of Assembly. The
decision of the Council on Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is
with immediate effect.”
Two of the six judges were alleged to have received
over N2.75 million bribe from two senior lawyers
Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Joseph Nwobike (SAN).
The EFCC had on March 9, 2016 arraigned Tarfa and
Nwobike before Lagos High Court on allegations of
bribery and offering gratification to a public official.
“Nwobike and Tarfa are facing criminal prosecution
for allegedly offering gratification to Federal High
Court judges to restrain them from exercising the
duties of their office.
“Subsequent investigation revealed that the two
Judges allegedly received sums of money from the
two senior lawyers severally.”
Judge apologises to convict
Meanwhile, a judge of the Federal High Court was
alleged to have sneaked into Kuje Prison in the
Federal Capital Territory to apologise to an inmate
for wrongful conviction.
A reliable source said: “The judge disguised and went
to the prison yard on September 13. The convict was
jailed for being in possession of cocaine.
“But the Federal High Court judge met with the
convict and expressed regrets for wrongful
conviction.
“He said he knew that the convict was a victim of a set
up and his conscience was troubling him.
“He offered to assist the convict in whatever manner
to make his stay in prison comfortable.
“But security agencies have picked up the visit of the
judge and they have started investigating it.”