The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Department of State Services (DSS

  • ‘Why we investigated Justice Ademola’

    ‘Why we investigated Justice Ademola’

    An official of the Department of State Services (DSS), Babatunde Adepoju told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday that the agency’s investigation of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court was informed by allegations of wrongdoing.
    Adepoju said the intelligence in his brief included allegations that Justice Ademola received bribes from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki and Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu to grant them bail. 
    The DSS operative said he was directed on October 9 last year to investigate allegations of bribery involving Justice Ademola. 
    Adepoju, who testified as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Ademola, his wife, Olabowale and a lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN), said he was also directed to investigate of one Honourable Jenkins Gwede, who wrote a petition against Justice Ademola at the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging that the judge  collected $200,000 to discharge an earlier garnishee order granted in his favour. 
    Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Segun Jegede, the witnesS told the court he was equally directed to investigate an allegation that Justice Ademola influenced the appointment of his wife as the Head of Service of Lagos State through his close relationship with former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu and his position as a Federal High Court judge.
    The witness confirmed that Justice Ademola denied all the allegations. 
    Adepoju said upon investigation, there was no evidence to prove that Justice Ademola influenced the appointment of his wife as HOS of Lagos State. 
    The witness said there was equally no evidence to support Jenkins’ allegations. 
    Adepoju said Justice Ademola told him that Jenkins apologised to him, two days after submitting the petition to the NJC, stating that he was misinformed by lawyers to the Delta State Government.
    The witness added that Justice Ademola told him that he (Jenkins) swore to an affidavit in which he withdrew the petition.
    He said he did not also find evidence to prove that Justice Ademola collected bribe to grant bail to Sambo Dasuki or Nnamdi Kanu. “They were hearsays”, he said. 
    Adepoju said investigation also supported Justice Ademola’s claim that the prosecution, in the Dasuki case, did not oppose Dasuki’s bail application. 
    Adepoju said Agi made a statement to the DSS, in which he said the N30 million he was accused of paying into the account of Mrs Ademola was at the instance of two of his clients: Ken Hubert and Bassey Bassey who instructed him to donate $150,000 in support of the Ademolas’ daughter’s wedding. 
    He said when they contacted the two individuals named by Agi, they confirmed instructing the donation.
    The witness said investigation also revealed that Justice Ademola granted three garnishee orders in excess of $636 million, $637 million and $3.1 billion in favour of a client of Joe Agi around the period Joe Agi paid N30 million in three tranches of N10 million each into the accounts of Mrs Ademola.
    He said Justice Ademola told him during interrogation that some of the money recovered from his residence were the conversion of the estacodes he got and withdrawals from his accounts for onward payment to a construction company, Dadks Concept that was carrying out a major construction at one of his properties at 55 Oduduwa Crescent, Lagos.
    Under cross-examination, Adepoju said he is aware that estacodes are given in foreign currencies, adding that he is also aware that whether to spend or not to spend the estacodes remains the business of the receiver of the estacodes. 
    Adepoju said, from available records, there are other sources of income for Justice Ademola.
    The witness said he came across a lodgement of $520,000 by Olabode Johnson of Johnson & Johnson partners in the statement of account of Justice Ademola. 
    “From the record provided by the firm, it was a large sum shared to three brothers with Justice Ademola. From Johnson & Johnson record, the money was from sale of property belonging to Justice Ademola and two other brothers,” he said.
    Further hearing resumes today.
  • DSS invitation in order: Apostle Suleman

    DSS invitation in order: Apostle Suleman

    The President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Mr Johnson Suleman, has said that his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) is in order.

    Suleman said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    “I presume the right thing was done. They have been in touch with me to come and that is why I am in Abuja, so that I can see them,” he said.

    He said that his recent statement was based on information from a reliable source that herdsmen were coming to attack him.
    He said that he stood by his statement on self defence.

    “I was talking in my personal capacity on information from a reliable source that certain people in the capacity of Herdsmen were coming to attack me and I told the people around me that if it happens they should defend themselves.

    Suleman had told his supporters at a religious crusade in Ekiti recently to defend themselves if they were attacked by herdsmen.

    However, as at the time of filing this report, Suleiman had yet to report to the DSS office.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was heavy presence of policemen and the DSS personnel with Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) around the services’ headquarters.

  • 5,000 security personnel for Lagos bye-election

    5,000 security personnel for Lagos bye-election

    No fewer than 5,000 security agents have been deployed by the police ahead of Saturday’s bye-election for Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency in Lagos state.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni made this disclosure during a stakeholders meeting held at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

    Owoseni disclosed that there would be restriction of movement in the election area from 12am, warning trouble makers to stay away.

    According to him, the 5000 security personnel were drawn from the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC).

    The bye-election was sequel to the death of the former representative, Adewale Elijah in August.
    He said: ”This meeting is an opportunity for candidates to sign an undertaking for a peaceful exercise. As candidates and leaders to be, you must be able to control your supporters and agents.

    ”The Police, Military, NSCDC and DSS are collaborating to secure the election. We are going to use 5,000 officers and men.

    ”Political office holders are warned from moving freely with their security aids during the election. No vehicle is parmitted to go close to any polling boots.

    ”The accreditation and voting commence same time. Anyone with observation should reach the officials and not take laws into their hands.”

    In his remark, zonal supervising officer, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chief Shoyebi Adedeji said all sensitive materials have been distributed to the wards.

  • DSS gives N250,000 to officers’ widows for burial

    DSS gives N250,000 to officers’ widows for burial

    One year after some Department of State Services (DSS) personnel were ambushed and killed by militants at Ikorodu, the agency has officially told their families.

    It was gathered that the DSS contacted the widows of the officers last week following the recovery of the agents’ uniforms by the military at a camp in Ishawo creek.

    The Nation gathered that military personnel engaged in operation AWATSE found some DSS uniforms and other accoutrements belonging to the personnel inside the camp during the mop of the bombarded areas.

    Uzo Nwafor, O.O Kayode, Luke Amole, S. Owolabi, S. Adegbite, Ben Mafo and Bayo Adeniyi had gone on a special mission against the militants in a bid to rescue a kidnapped victim.

    Unfortunately, they were ratted out and killed by militants and allegedly buried in shallow graves in the creek.

    However, the bodies of their deceased’s husbands were not handed over, as the DSS was yet to locate the graves where they were allegedly buried.

    It was gathered that six widows attended the meeting where their husbands were described by the agency as “heroes in the line of duty.”

    An actor, Don Saint, whose brother, Nwafor, was one of the victims, took to social media to divulge that the widows were invited on October 29 and handed N250,000 each for the burial of their husbands.

    He said: “This is my brother, the Samson of my family, my community, my state and Lagos State. The best DSS officer in Lagos State (2014).

    “After over one year of sorrows, pains and false hope, the DSS has finally alerted the families of missing DSS officers that their loved ones ‘died’ as heroes in the line of duty.

    “On Saturday, October 29, the DSS gave each of the families N250,000 as their own contribution for their burial. When we asked about their bodies, they told us that they couldn’t locate their bodies.

    “The Minister for Information once said that most Nigerians spend up to N100,000 on a bottle of Champagne. So, I ask, if the lives of these ‘fallen’ heroes as they said, are worth only about two bottles of Champagne each?

    “I am making a case not only for my brother but for all the security personnel who put their lives in harm’s way for the sake of this nation.

    “While some people are paid to loot our money, those people who put their lives on the line are treated as… They say what goes around comes around, hence, as we continue to wallow in our pains, we thank President Buhari and the DSS as we lay this on the table of God Almighty! God bless Nigeria!”

    A source from the DSS who refused to be named said the widows were invited and told about their husband’s demise.

    He stated that aside the N250,000 cash handed to them for burial, the agency also gave them cheques.
    He said: “It is not true that they were only given N250,000. The families were given cheques too. Some of them got as much as N6million cheque. They all didn’t get the same amount because the cheques were based on seniority.”

  • NJC faults NBA’s call for suspension of affected judges

    NJC faults NBA’s call for suspension of affected judges

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has faulted the call by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the compulsory suspension of some judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on corruption allegations.
    The NBA President, Abubakar Mahmud (SAN) had, at a function in Abuja on Thursday, urged the affected judges to either be sent on compulsory suspension or cease to exercise their judicial powers until their innocence was proved.
    The NJC argued in a statement late on Friday that the NBA was wrong in calling for the judges’ suspension having earlier supported the council’s decision to condemn the arrest, which it described as an attempt to cow the Judiciary.
    The statement by its Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye, stated that the council could only exercise its disciplinary powers over judicial officers where due processes were complied with.
    NJC said the midnight invasion of the judges’ houses and their arrest by DSS violated due process and could not serve as a basis for the NJC to suspend the affected judicial officers.
  • Arrested judges should step aside, says Nwabueze

    Arrested judges should step aside, says Nwabueze

    Elder statesman and constitutional lawyer Prof. Ben Nwabueze, has advised the judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption to step aside until the allegations levelled against them are resolved.

    He also blamed the makeup of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) for the rot in the judiciary, saying it is not the appropriate body for the functions assigned to it.

    Backing the call made by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that judges whose houses were recently invaded by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and currently facing allegations of corruption should step aside until their cases are sorted out, Nwabueze said: “If I were one of the judges, I will not feel comfortable sitting on the throne of justice.
    “I will feel most uncomfortable and embarrassed.

    “I will step aside until investigations are carried out and I am vindicated. That is why I agree entirely with the position taken by the NBA. Let them step aside.

    “But, unfortunately, it may turn out in the end that they are innocent.”

    Asked what he would have done differently with regard to the allegations against the judges, Nwabueze said he would not have used the DSS to handle the matter, adding that what the agency has done amounts to usurping the  duties of the police.

    He said the instrument provided by the constitution to handle such matters is the police.He added: “I would have used the police, incompetent as they are, to investigate the allegation thoroughly, and any judge found wanting after investigation would be prosecuted.

    He added: “I would have used the police, incompetent as they are, to investigate the allegation thoroughly, and any judge found wanting after investigation would be prosecuted. “I won’t spare anybody, but I won’t do this Gestapo style of investigation.”

    “I won’t spare anybody, but I won’t do this Gestapo-style of an investigation.” Nwabueze said though the judiciary is “stinking with corruption,” it is not necessary to undermine its credibility.

    Nwabueze said though the judiciary is “stinking with corruption,” it is not necessary to undermine its credibility. He added: “We should find a way of investigating and prosecuting those who are.

    He added: “We should find a way of investigating and prosecuting those who are corrupt but, not by this police state method.

    “You can’t disgrace an institution because of one or two rotten eggs. There is a better way to do it.

    “But here you have a President that is already prejudiced against the judiciary. He doesn’t believe in all these democratic methods.”He believes in

    “He believes in personal, power and the National Security Act has equipped him with the personal power that he wants, and he is exploiting it. “That act should be expunged from our statute book. “

    “That act should be expunged from our statute book.”

    Nwabueze said the NJC has not acquitted itself well with regard to fighting corruption within the judiciary, and that this is owing to the fact it does not have enough powers.

    He said: “The NJC is not the appropriate body for the functions assigned to it.

    “The body needs to be revamped for the effective discharge of the functions assigned to it.

    “It is meant to be a body to discipline judges, but because it is made up of judges, it cannot work.”The constitutional lawyer, 85, said beyond the NJC, a lot of things are wrong with the country’s legal system.

    The constitutional lawyer, 85, said beyond the NJC, a lot of things are wrong with the country’s legal system.

    These, he said, include the system of investigation and prosecution of the police, which is not efficient.

    “It is slow, cumbersome and the problem is compounded by corruption. It is corruption that has made it slow,” he added.

  • DSS arrest: NBA calls for suspension of affected judges

    DSS arrest: NBA calls for suspension of affected judges

    …Justice Denton-West, Ondo NBA Chair proffer solution to judicial corruption

     

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegation of corruption to suspend sitting and proceed on compulsory suspension.

    NBA President, Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), who made the request in Abuja Thursday urged the affected judges to recuse themselves from all judicial activities until their innocence was proved.

    He said the accusation and counter-accusation between the affected judicial officers and some politicians and institutions, following the last mass arrest of judges, has made it imperative for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take urgent steps to salvage the image of the Judiciary.

    Mahmud spoke at a valedictory court session for the retiring Justice Sotonye Denton-West of the Court of Appeal. He called for urgent intervention of the NBA to revive the dwindling reputation of the Judiciary.

    Mahmud said: “In the interim however, particularly having regards to what appears to an ongoing accusations and counter accusations between the some of the judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts.

    “We therefore strongly recommend that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the Judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.

    “We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution,” Mahmud said.

    Justice Denton-West, who, until her retirement, the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure division agreed with the Chairman, NBA, Ondo State, Adetunji Oso agreed that the Judiciary was not immune to corruption that currently pervades the Nigerian society.

    While Denton-West said she was once a victim of corruption in the Judiciary, Oso advised that rather than argue about the level of corruption in the judicial system, efforts should be directed at curbing it.

    Justice Denton-West said: “Indeed, I know and believe that there is corruption, unfortunately even in the folds of the Judiciary. I have personally been a victim of corrupt act from the Judiciary on some occasions.

    “The Nigerian Judiciary in the past has been one of the greatest in the world, but it is time to relive and embrace the rule of law in its entirety. It seems only lip service is paid to this great doctrine. It is essential that the rule of law must be observed in order for society to run smoothly, otherwise the beauty of democracy will elude us.

    “The rule of law is observed when there is mutual respect between the authorities and those subject to authority and, between the powers that be and their subjects, in accordance with the law. For we are all subject to the law,” she said.

    Oso argued that there was no dispute about the existence of corruption in the Judiciary, adding that every Nigerian should be concerned about how to eradicate it.

    He was of the view however, that efforts to rid the Judiciary of corruption must not end in destroying the entire system.

    Oso suggested that any judge accused of corruption should first be dealt with internally/administratively by the NJC before he/she is released to be prosecuted as a former judge, in the regular court.

    He called for urgent reforms in the workings of the NJC to enable it deal with complaints against judges promptly and must act without fear or favour.

    As a further measure of riding the Bench of corruption, the Ondo NBA Chair suggested among others, the exclusion of spouses of politically exposed individuals from consideration for appointment as a judge.

    He added that where such a spouse was already a judge before his/her husband/wife became politically exposed, such judge should resign.

    Other speakers, including the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar  Malami (who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Taiwo Abidogun) and Onomigbo Okpoko – SAN – (who spoke for the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria) and Mrs. Hairat Balogun – SAN – (who spoke for the Body of Benchers) eulogised the retiring Justice Denton-West.

    They described her in beautiful words, including being an embodiment of integrity.

     

  • Justice Ademola withdraws from Dasuki’s trial

    Justice Ademola withdraws from Dasuki’s trial

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the judge in the case against the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has withdrawn from the cases.

    Ademola, one of the seven judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption, claimed that he was being harassed and intimidated by the service.

    He cited allegations of corruption by DSS against him, which is prosecuting Dasuki’s case, as the reason for his action.

    The judge claimed that he was being harassed and intimidated for granting bail to Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra.

  • Arrest of judges: Justices Ademola, Dimgba resume duties

    Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja resumed works Monday, about a week after their houses were raided and Ademola arrested by men of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Both judges conducted court businesses Monday in their courtrooms – Courts 7 and 11.

    While Justice Dimgba heard a case – the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/788/2016 by a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olusegun Michael Abraham, Justice Ademola attended to 12 cases.

    Justice Ademola sat from a little over 9am to 10. 44a.m. Among the cases he attended to were two filed against the DSS by two individuals currently being held by the agency.

    The first was the one marked: CS/518/2016 filed by Olusegun Komolafe against Director General, SSS (also DSS) and another; and the second marked: CS/498/2016 by Engr Chidiebere Onwudiwe v. SSS.

    The DSS did not attend proceedings and was not represented; following which Justice Ademola ordered the issuance of hearing notices on the DSS before the next date.

    The Nation learnt that the judges were encouraged by the court’s authorities to resume duties in the absence of any query and suspension notice issued to them by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    “A judge’s conduct could only be queried by the NJC. He can only be suspended from office or recommended for either retirement of dismissal by the NJC.

    “In the case of the judges arrested by the DSS, they still remain judges and will continue in that capacity until they can no longer do so.

    “As it is now, they have neither been suspended not recommended for removal. So, they remain judges, who are liberty to perform their judicial functions and act in the capacity of a judge,” a senior official of the court said.

    In the suit by Abraham, Justice Dimgba ordered the service of court documents, in relation to the case, on APC’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the party’s purported governorship candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu through substituted means.

    The judge’s order was informed by application by plaintiff’s lawyer, Prof Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), in which he complained of his client’s inability to effect personal service on the two defendants.

    He said service has been effected on the other two defendants – APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Abraham’s suit is, among others, challenging the competence of the last APC’s governorship primary election in Ondo State held on September 3 this year.

    The plaintiff, who raised eight questions for the court’s determination, is praying the court to among others, declare that the primary election was held in violation of provisions of the APC’s Electoral Guidelines for Governorship primary election 2014 and the party’s constitution and therefore invalid and incapable of producing Akeredolu as a candidate.

    He also seeks an order setting aside the primary for alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the party’s primary election guidelines and constitution.

    Abraham, who emerged second in the primary election, equally wants the court to set aside the purported submission of Akeredolu’s name to INEC by Odigie-Oyegun and the electoral body’s acceptance of the name as the APC’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election.

    He also seeks an order compelling INEC to extend time within which the APC could conduct a fresh primary based “on the congress and congress appeal committee’s delegates’ list 2014 and in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, the constitution of the APC, the party’s electoral guidelines 2014 and the Constitution of Nigeria.

    A date will be fixed for the hearing of the case after the plaintiff reports compliance with the order for substituted service.

  • Protesters seek support for prosecution of judges

    Protesters seek support for prosecution of judges

    Hundreds of protesters Thursday stormed the Abuja headquarters of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), expressing support for the arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The protesters, under the aegis of Nigerians United Against Corruption‎ (NUAC) urged the NBA to withdraw its support for the arrested judges.

    They equally asked the umbrella body of lawyers in the not to support corruption in any form.

    The protesters were armed with placard, with various inscriptions, such as “a corrupt judge is worse than boko Haram; corruption must die in Nigeria; we support more arrest of corrupt Nigerians among others”.

    Comrade Ogenyi Okpokwu, who led the protesters, handed a letter meant for the National President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud (NBA) to his representative, Ezekiel David.

    The protesters urged the NBA to set up an independent body to investigate issues of corruption in the profession, with a view to excluding the bad eggs among them.

    In its letter, NUAC demanded as follows:

    • That the NBA withdraws all form of support and sympathy for these corrupt elements which have most certainly tainted the image of one of the world’s most dignified professions.
    • That you set up an independent body to investigate issues of corruption amongst members with the aim of excommunicating same, as deterrent to others who may have been enticed by the flamboyant life styles of these judases.
    • All the judges so far indicted or arrested for corruption, should immediately resign considering the magnitude of the case that the DSS has built against them.
    • The cases of those that have been given lenient punishments, that amount to a slap on the wrist by the National Judicial Council (NJC), should be revisited with a view to dragging them before a law court.
    • The arrested judges should be charged to court within the shortest time possible to that they cannot claim their rights were violated”.