UPDATE: Rivers State election tribunal - Gov. Wike Gave N100m to Justice Muazu Pindiga - Saharareporters



SaharaReporters has learnt from sources at the Department of State Security (DSS) that the overnight raid on the residences of some nine court judges, culminating in the arrest of several of them, came as a result of petitions and decisions of the National Judicial Council (NJC), a statutory body that regulates the activities of judges.

Two DSS sources, however, stated that contrary to earlier reports, the Supreme Court nominee for Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was not targeted in any of the raids conducted so far. Justice Onnohen reportedly raised alarm to friends when he noticed police action next to his residence as a team of security agents swooped on his next door neighbor, Justice Sylvanus Ngwunta. A press release issued by the DSS indicated that Justice Onnohen is not under investigation, SaharaReporters learnt that the justice's appointment is being fast-tracked to become the CJN in a few days.

However, two Supreme Court justices, John Inyang Okoro and Sylvanus Ngwuta, were arrested in connection with the receipt of bribes from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. Justice Ngwuta reportedly traveled to Qatar to receive bribes that he shared with Justice Okoro and other justices in order to help Mr. Wike to win a case at the Supreme Court regarding his disputed election. During a search of his home Justice Ngwunta was in possession of N35,208m, $319,475, 25,890 pounds and 280 Euros

The two judges have been linked with massive properties development in Abuja and Calabar. Justice Okoro is said to be building seven houses simultaneously in Calabar with the help of former Governor Godswill Akpabio and his predecessor Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom state. Justice Okoro had N4.35m, $38,833 and 1000 Euros in his possession during his arrest this morning.

SaharaReporters learned that Governor Wike sprang up late at night to obstruct the arrest of a judge in Port Harcourt. The altercation that ensued created a tense atmosphere between the Governor and security operatives sent to arrest the judge.

One source told SaharaReporters that the judge involved was Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. Justice Liman, who is yet to be apprehended reportedly took $2million from Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party to give a judgement that “overthrew” the faction led by a former governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff. Governor Wike reportedly transferred the funds in cash to Liman in Ghana, before it was ferried to his home in Port Harcourt. The bribe was to be shared between Lima and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Auta. When the team arrived the house in Port Harcourt where the loot was kept Gov. Wike mobilized his men to counter the DSS team with the aid of the State’s Police Commissioner. Another source also stated that one Justice Uche Nma Agomoh of the Federal High Court in the same city who was a lackey of the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Joseph Daudu was also involved in the scam.

A statement issued by the DSS stated that their team was obstructed by the governor and some thugs with the help of officers from a sister agency, which SaharaReporters learnt is a reference to the Nigerian police.

A security source claimed that Governor Wike left when confronted by police and DSS agents who threatened to shoot him, however, the obstruction aided movement of the cash found on the property. Governor Wike told a different version to the press, claiming he did not know who the judge was.

As early as 11 p.m. Nigerian time, the siege on the homes of judges became public knowledge when DSS agents raided the home of a young judge, Dimgba Nnamdi, who apparently has been a thorn in the side of the DSS lately. When the siege was over, the judge's brother had been brutalized, after which the security agents showed their victim a "search warrant" meant for Justice Okoro. Justice Dimgba Nnamdi was "roughened up" but not immediately arrested. However, a DSS source stated Justice Dimgba is guilty of corruption and had been arrested as well.

Justice Muazu Pindiga, who was arrested in Gombe, was transported to the DSS headquarters in Abuja. A DSS source told our correspondent that Justice Pindiga was cooperating with the DSS regarding his role in a bribery scheme over the Rivers State election tribunal from which he was removed as a judge as Saharareporters exposed him for receiving N100m from Governor Wike.

SaharaReporters learned that Justice Muhammad Ladan Tsamiya, an Appeal Court justice who was recently "compulsorily retired" by the NJC, was not home when a DSS team invaded his home in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja, he reportedly surrendered to the DSS later this morning.

One of the most dramatic scenes took place when the DSS team stormed the home of Justice Adeniyi Ademola. When the team ordered Justice Ademola to come out, the judge claimed he was not home, but his cellphone signal gave him away. He was subsequently arrested with at least N300 million found in different local and foreign currencies in his bedroom. Specifically the same of N54m cash, $171,779. 4,400 Euros, 1,010 Rupees, and 80 pounds was found in his residence.

A different team also arrested Justice Kabiru Auta in Kano. One DSS source told our reporter that the raids were meant to be carried out by joint DSS and the Nigerian police teams, adding that the police bungled some of the raids by apparently tipping off their targets.

Several security agents stated that the raids took place following independent investigations that were triggered by petitions submitted to the NJC against some of the judges. According to one of the operatives, none of the nine judges targeted haven't spent their salaries in the last two years.

One source revealed that the raids were originally planned for last week, but had to be postponed for "strategic reasons."

A statement issued by the DSS stated that the agency had recovered large sums of foreign and local currencies. The DSS gave a breakdown of the recovered funds as follows:

SUMMARY OF RECOVERED MONEY

1. NAIRA - N93,558,000.00
2. DOLLARS - $530,087
3. POUNDS - £25,970
4. EURO - €5,680

Other foreign currencies were also recovered. The funds were recovered from just three of the arrested judges. The DSS revealed that its operatives also seized banking as well as real estate documents from several judges. The agency is making preparations to arraign the arrested justices in court early next week.

http://newsnownigeria.com.ng/update-rivers-state-election-tribunal-gov-wike-gave-n100m-justice-muazu-pindiga/

Nawa Ooooo

No wonder the big headed violence loving governor was resisting arrest of his partners in crime the other day. He is a beneficiary of the corrupt and biased judges who helped him restore his fraudulent mandate after series of bribes. I commend the commando invasion tactics of the Dss. It will instill fear across the country now and most judges will tremble with fear and think twice before collecting bribes.


Dictatorship is the best form of government we need in nigeria. Democracy gives corrupt people the escape route in the name of protection of human rights. They exploit the loop holes of the law to their advantage and adjourn cases till eternity. Buhari is doing a good job by using brutal dictatorship to fight corruption

Lies from the Pit of hell

ha! all in the name of fighting corruption, they trying to destroy opposition states, I want to say that nothing is going to happen to wike . he is destined to rule, and who God don bless no man can curse....




up till this moment, zombies didn't ask a question about the electoral officer of kano state that was killed together with is entire family. Nigeria is a conspiracy and a mistake that needs to be corrected

Hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha one of the propaganda methods of this government is to be quoting big big money to attract support... And the zombies will be like *oh my God, well done PMB* hahahahaahaahahahahahaha... Not all Nigerians are Zombies sha. Ask them evidence of the recovered money and you will be shocked it won't be up to N2M

hnmmm .

figment232:
Lies from the Pit of hell

Please tell us the truth from the high of heavens. We are waiting. Biko.

So apc wanted to win rivers state abi??..

Oya make them reverse the judgement..

Hehehehehehe...

they have started calling millions again. continue

Sahara reporters and Zombies government.....

BUHARIISCURSED:
ha! all in the name of fighting corruption, they trying to destroy opposition states, I want to say that nothing is going to happen to wike . he is destined to rule, and who God don bless no man can curse....




up till this moment, zombies didn't ask a question about the electoral officer of kano state that was killed together with is entire family. Nigeria is a conspiracy and a mistake that needs to be corrected

And what would we say about the yayaha Bello case??..

Buhari expects all judges to dance to the tune of his party..

I laugh..

E go happen o for this country..

Pmb needs to wake up..this is 2016..

patriotic9jaboy:
No wonder the big headed violence loving governor was resisting arrest of his partners in crime the other day. He is a beneficiary of the corrupt and biased judges who helped him restore his fraudulent mandate after series of bribes. I commend the commando invasion tactics of the Dss. It will install fear across the country now and most judges will tremble with fear and think twice before collecting bribes.


Dictatorship is the best form of government we need in nigeria. Democracy gives corrupt people the escape route in the name of protection of human rights. They exploit the loop holes of the law to their advantage and adjourn cases till eternity. Buhari is doing a good job by using brutal dictatorship to fight corruption

please go to north korea..you and your entire family..

You think all Nigerians are Muslims that are better treated with iron hands via sharia by clueless leaders??..if you seek a dictator go to north korea..

Nigeria is a democratic country..if buhari can't rule within the confines of democracy he should resign..rubbish...

blazetitov:


Please tell us the truth from the high of heavens. We are waiting. Biko.

You go wait till you grow hunch back, ain't nothing to tell, they just want to be seen as providing "opposition", no matter how ridiculous they come across..

modath:


You go wait till you grow hunch back, ain't nothing to tell, they just want to be seen as providing "opposition", no matter how ridiculous they come across..

modath you never still get sense abi..??

You still wan dey mumu dey follow propangada upandan..



Abeg what about the judge wey handle Bello case??...

So buhari them wan win every court case..??

Do I still hear any morons saying the raid was wrong?? Would these corruption supporters say the same if the person raided was a nobody??

Smh

Is it Rivers state oil money that is making Buhari forget that he was democratically elected?

Is it possible for APC to win every court case? Nawao, this tyranny is scary

Right from time immemorial, i know by their nature judges would be most corrupt.

They will collect bribes and used delay tactics. God they sha

blackpanda:
Do I still hear any morons saying the raid was wrong?? Would these corruption supporters say the same if the person raided was a nobody??

Smh

see am..e don run come..small time when the real truth go surface e go hide..lets wait till monday..

By the way where are those SANS that ran to the court to defend buharis waec cert?...where are they?

You guys expect the APC to win every court case reason for this madness..

You guys want rivers state by crook right??..

Come and get it...

if not for the Yeye paper of a currency our naira has been become, the total sum in justice okoro 's house is not up-to Ngn10m. even with the devaluation of naira, it is still not up-to ngn 20m, which I know is not much for someone that has been practising for ages, I am sure there is no money in their respective bank accounts, the reason for this Jackie Chan approach.

How much did tinubu give judge in LAG
How much did edo give judge
How much did PMB give judge to dump his certificate issue
How much did brutai buy how in dubai


Lots of questions.
This PMB is a full blown tribalist goat

Journalist were there when Wike handed this monies to those Judges. Interesting to me

patriotic9jaboy:
Dictatorship is the best form of government we need in nigeria. Democracy gives corrupt people the escape route in the name of protection of human rights. They exploit the loop holes of the law to their advantage and adjourn cases till eternity. Buhari is doing a good job by using brutal dictatorship to fight corruption

I hope you won't complain when the arrow rebounds. BTW why didn't Buhari use dictatorship on Buratai?

Izonpikin:
see am..e don run come..small time when the real truth go surface e go hide..lets wait till monday..

By the way where are those SANS that ran to the court to defend buharis waec cert?...where are they?

You guys expect the APC to win every court case reason for this madness..

You guys want rivers state by crook right??..

Come and get it...

You are really not worth communicating with. What has this raid got to do with apc?? Pls grow up!

blackpanda:



You are really not worth communicating with. What has this raid got to do with apc?? Pls grow up!

you are the black thing that needs to grow up..

Supporting a dictator isn't growing up..ok??..

blackpanda:



You are really not worth communicating with. What has this raid got to do with apc?? Pls grow up!

Guys like that were brought up with very questionable morals by obviously incompetent guardians so don't take it too personally when they show tacit support for every societal ill. It's the only thing they know.

Piking wey tif train, go see pick-pocket as seminarian.

Na only Sahara reporter dey carry dis news upandan.

Izonpikin:
see am..e don run come..small time when the real truth go surface e go hide..lets wait till monday..

By the way where are those SANS that ran to the court to defend buharis waec cert?...where are they?

You guys expect the APC to win every court case reason for this madness..

You guys want rivers state by crook right??..

Come and get it...

hehehehe

Now I know that APC members are now Buhari's cattle. They want to use Jihadist method to grow membership. Thanks to some wise Nigerians who won't fall into their traps. They know that POI has headed for Tribunal to recover his stolen mandate but they want disarray between NJC and wants to eradicate rule of law in Nigeria. I was yet to be born in 1985 during his first rule but some Nigerians in their right senses said this kind of thing happened then but I now believe them. Nigeria is now grounded, APC members are enjoying, opposition are hunted, Nigerians are suffering, almost everything are extra ordinary costly, Buhari is traveling, Lai Mohammed is giving us Propaganda, judges are abducted at night, PMB's party members are saints and sheilded against criticism, any body naming dog or pets after PMB are arrested, No freedom of information, you dare not protest against injustice in Nigeria without been arrested..... "Things fall apart "... In Chinua Achebe's voice... God save Nigeria from extinction...

Izonpikin:
mo you never still get sense abi..??

You still wan dey mumu dey follow propangada upandan..



Abeg what about the judge wey handle Bello case??...

So buhari them wan win every court case..??

Since i manage to entertain your drama, I'll indulge you again this nice but rainy sunday...

So if you don't add sense and mumu to your BS tripe, you can't communicate your objection? Or cos you won't get the anticipated likes? I know you and your acolytes' made lingua franca is abuse and curses but try dey do better sontains.. bye.

modath:


Since i manage to entertain your drama, I'll indulge you again this nice but rainy sunday...

So if you don't add sense and mumu to your BS tripe, you can't communicate your objection? Or cos you won't get the anticipated likes? I know you and your acolytes' made lingua franca is abuse and curses but try dey do better sontains.. bye.

bye bye...

The judiciary is even worst than the legislature.