A senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN), Chief Afe Babalola, and the Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, have condemned the arrest of several judges across the country by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Both men spoke on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti capital while laying the foundation of the state new High Court complex.
Afe Babalola said the matter was one to be handled by the National Judicial Council (NJC) not the DSS.
The senior advocate stated, “Then why did you then decide to harass their families? The DSS has no right to take over the responsibility of the police.
“If people have evidence against judges, they should report to the NJC. How can you arrest a sitting judge and take him before a magistrate to try him?
“There is nowhere in the world you try a sitting judge. You don’t take a sitting judge to court and even the law stipulates that no court process can be served after 7pm.
“It is when the judges are sacked that you take them to court for prosecution. We are not opposed to the fight against corruption, but that due process must be followed.”
Fayose, who had condemned the invasion, said due process must be followed.
“If we do not allow due process, the DSS will soon descend on other arms of government and innocent people. They may soon descend on the media and others because of the feelings that they are not doing their biddings. I won’t approach any judge for assistance or to subvert justice in any way whatsoever,” he said.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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