The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has described as brutal and uncivilized, the raid on the houses of some Judges and their arrest at the weekend by men of the Department of State Security (DSS) for alleged corruption.
The union said while it is in total support of the fight of corruption, the rule of law must be applied in dealing with cases of corruption and demanded the immediate release of all the arrested judges.
National President of the union, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu said in a press statement in Abuja that the union has summoned an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for Tuesday 11, October 2016 to deliberate on the issue with a view to fashioning out the next line of action, if nothing is done to uphold the sanctity of the Judiciary as an arm of government.
The statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Koin Selepreye quoted the Union President as lamenting the gestapo style adopted by the DSS in dealing with the matter.
According to the Union officials, the secret police should have forward the names of the corrupt officers to NJC which is the statutory body which can punish or dismiss any erring judicial officer.
While calling on members to remain calm on what he described as “invasion of the Judiciary” the union said “we received with disappointment the news of raiding and subsequent arrest of some Judges in Nigeria who were accused of corruption in an inhuman manner.
“It is sad that as a Security Agency whose primary duty includes intelligent gathering and the protection of Senior Government official would now perform their duties in a gestapo style
“The National Office of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) rejects this unfortunate trend. To think that an Agency like the DSS that is expected to respect the rule of law and due process would now under whatever guise not do the right thing.
“In as much as we do not support corruption, we frown at the manner with which the DSS is going about its duty as it is very vindictive and unacceptable to us. We therefore urge the DSS and all Security Agencies to respect the Rule of Law for democracy to strive stronger in Nigeria”.
Source :The Nation
