Senior Nigerian lawyers turn down offers from federal government to prosecute Judges arrested by DSS

The Federal Government has lost the bid to secure the services of senior lawyers to prosecute judges alleged of corruption, an impeccable source has told Politics Nigeria.

The Federal Government is currently prosecuting three judges, the Chief Registrar and two other senior officials of the Supreme Court for alleged corruption.

The judges are Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High, Lagos.

Justices Ngwuta and Ademola were part of the eight judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 8 and 9 for alleged corruption. Justice Ajumogobia was, however, drilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before her prosecution commenced.

The source, who preferred anonymity because he is not authorised to talk on the issue, said that not less than 15 SANs have rejected Federal Government’s briefs for the prosecution of the judges.

The source further disclosed that part of the senior lawyers who rejected the proposed fiat to prosecute included prominent senior lawyers who are part of special prosecutors assembled by the Federal Government through its National Prosecution Coordinating Committee.

Politcs Nigeria recalled that in preparation for high profile cases, the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), had set up a National Prosecution Coordinating Committee, which was made of several SANs.

It is further recalls that the government had assembled about 80 special prosecutors, grouped into 20 teams, for the purpose of prosecuting high-profile cases that are instituted by the AGF and Minister of Justice’s office. Each team is having four SANs.

The source also stated that at least a quarter of the group members were offered the briefs of prosecuting the judges, but they declined. Speaking on the decline, some senior lawyers who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they rejected the brief based on how the Federal Government went about the whole issue.

They added that they are in support of the efforts by the Federal Government to cleanse the judiciary, but they are opposed to the approach. Also, some well-recognised prosecutors, who are familiar with handling corruption cases in the country, seem not to be willing to take up the brief.

Some of them have attributed their rejection of the brief to the fact that the government’s approach is targeted at caging the judiciary. They, however, said that they are willing to defend the judges in court.

However, in the absence of Nigerian-based senior lawyers, the Federal Government was left with an option of looking elsewhere and this resulted to government hiring two former international prosecutors, Segun Jegede and Charles Adeogun-Philips. The duo has accepted the offer, though the terms of contract are not known.

However, they have started the work of prosecution. While Jegede is leading the prosecution of Justice Ademola, Adeogun-Philips heads the prosecuting team with respect to Justice Ngwuta’s and the Supreme Court officials’ trials.
http://politicsngr.com/corruption-war-15-sans-reject-offers-prosecute-judges/
cc : lalasticlala

Propaganda. Even when you are guilty, many lawyers will take the case because of cash. One thing about this buharis admin is the lies

Don't know what to make out of this but all I know is that the judges are corrupt but Buhari's approach at handling it is not wise. He is too in haste not knowing that some professions still have a cult membership and would hardly go against there own. But one thing I know, offer enough financial remuneration for this case and you'll see the so called SAN itching to take the case.

No one is safe. Prosecute them today, they'll come after you tomorrow as long as you're not in APC.

DonLo:
Don't know what to make out of this but all I know is that the judges are corrupt but Buhari's approach at handling it is not wise. He is too in haste not knowing that some professions still have a cult membership and would hardly go against there own. But one thing I know, offer enough financial remuneration for this case and you'll see the so called SAN itching to take the case.

We know these things . . .
Most corrupt folks are emboldened by those things.

They too are not clean

Hahahaha funny country

They should tell us another story joor.
To what end will the evil solidarity of the so called senior lawyers help the case of those corrupt judges?

It should have been the solidarity of their fellow judges pushing for stay of proceeding against them, then it might sound sensible and speak some volume. And not those inconsequential vandals in the temple of justice.

Who wan join buhari fool himself? Abeg uncle bubu should prosecute him by himself joor. Lubbish

It is only proper that such a poisoned chalice be put as far away as possible from any sensible person. It has been made clear over abs again that there is no issue with combating corruption but the right procedure and approach much be deployed and where that is not done, it compromises the entire process.

freeze001:
It is only proper that such a poisoned chalice be put as far away as possible from any sensible person. It has been made clear over abs again that there is no issue with combating corruption but the right procedure and approach much be deployed and where that is not done, it compromises the entire process.

didn't hear from you

Mujaheeeden:
didn't hear from you

Sorry, checking now...

I don't even know what to feel about Nigeria again.

Hmmmn... Na them them. To them now they're forming "One good turn deserves another" abi?

Who would dare!

Are they not the ones that run errands between the politicians and the judges? Them get liver prosecute them make the judges open their nyash.

how many of you have taken your time to read the rules and regulation of nairaland?


I just did

Segun jegede and Charles adeogun-Phillips .

Because they wouldn't want to go and rubbish their reputations over a useless no-evidence and a failed case.

Buhari is a monumental failure. He's a calamity, a disaster and a cancer to Nigeria and Nigerians. Lets team up together and throw away this calamity back to daura come 2019. I believe he can do well as a cow herder than a president .

Let he who has no sin be the first to cast the stone
Besides the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary should not meddle in each other affairs.
If Bubu has appointed saints as he promised, the saint in the Judiciary should be the one championing the course
Anyway a primary six holder might not know that.
Abeg no quote me oooo. Just my one cent.

How will they when they know Buhari is only fighting His enemies...

I just wonder what goes on in the head of this guy called Buhari


Is he aware we are in recession?

Government of lies.

Doing the right thing the wrong way is all together wrong

This is interesting.

The SANs wont do it, cause either they will or loose, they probably would never win a case in a Nigerian Court afterwards. Now that's one huge reason Nigeria is in a deep mess. Is there really a way out of this corruption, seems its embedded in our genes