DSS Raid: I will continue to sit, Justice Ademola tells critics

Despite calls for the suspension of judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Monday, said he will continue to sit. The judge, who sat over 12 cases before his court on Monday, advised parties before him to apply for necessary transfers if they are not comfortable continuing their matters […]

Despite calls for the suspension of judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), Justice Adeniyi Ademola, Monday, said he will continue to sit.

The judge, who sat over 12 cases before his court on Monday, advised parties before him to apply for necessary transfers if they are not comfortable continuing their matters before him.

He said that he will not quit his seat until otherwise directed.

"As far as we are concerned, we have been asked (by the National Judicial Council) to maintain our seats. So that is the position of things," he said.

Justice Ademola was among the judges arrested after their homes were searched by the DSS on Saturday October 8 and 9.

Others are: Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court; Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Justice Mu’azu Pindiga of the High Court, Gombe.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria had last week advised the judges to step down pending the conclusion of their investigation and prosecution.

But the NJC had maintained that the judges cannot be suspended until corruption cases are established against them.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed argued that to suspend any of the affected judges or to ask them to proceed on compulsory leave would contravene Section 158 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.