Activists issues quit notice to arrested judges

AN anti-corruption group, Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria (FONGON), yesterday gave a one-week ultimatum to the judges arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) for alleged corruption to vacate their seats and allow unimpeded investigations.

FONGON threatened to mobilise its members to occupy the Supreme Court, if the judges failed to step aside.

Its chairman, Comrade Wole Badmus, who addressed reporters during a rally at the Supreme Court, said no member of the judiciary was above the law and untouchable, especially when found to be involved in criminal acts.

Badmus, who led about 100 members of the forum to the court and the National Assembly, said the judges erred according to the Money Laundering Act to have kept huge amounts of cash at home.

He said: "Failure of National Judicial Commission (NJC) to stop all the judges under investigation from sitting, we have no choice than to occupy the courts the judges are sitting. When we are talking of the rule of law, you have to obey the rule of law first before we obey your rule of law. You have been alleged of certain things and the best thing to do is to step aside and let investigations be done.

"You cannot continue sitting there and pervert the course of justice. We have 50 organisations here; we will be up to 200 organisations. From today, we are giving a one week ultimatum for the judges under investigations to step aside."

The FOGON leader said no judge should be untouchable or above the law as the constitution did not confer on members of the judiciary any immunity from prosecution, if found guilty of any infraction.

"No judge or justice is beyond being arrested if found wanting in the discharge of his duty. We are surprised by the argument being put up by the judges; none has been able to come out clear to say the money found in his house did not exist.

"They are telling us stories meant for a three-year-old toddler. When has a judge turned to farmer? Some other judgers are claiming it is estacode. This is bunkum we cannot believe it. Even by the law of Nigeria, once you have unspent estacode, you must return it to the coffers. Based on the Money Laundering Act of 2000, the money has to be declared. This sum found in the houses of these judges is very embarrassing when Nigerians are crying for food on the table and for qualitative education."

FOGON accused the NJC of not doing enough to fight corruption in the judiciary.

Members of FOGON, who carried various placards, insisted that those indicted should face the law while the anti-corruption agencies continue their investigations for more corrupt officials.

"Change is not automatic. Nigerians must brace up to the reality. For the fact that another thief has not been caught, that does not free the one that has been caught people should not muddle things together. This rule of law is used to kill a lot of cases," he added.

FOGON Secretary Comrade Omobolaji David said the fight against corruption would not exclude the members of the Executive and the Legislative.

"There is no untouchable; no one is excluded, even the president," he said.
 
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