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| Justice Adeniyi Ademola. |
Recall about seven judges were arrested by the DSS on allegation of massive fraud. The judges that were arrested by the DSS include: Justice Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court; Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court; Muazu Pindiga of the Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.
However, the judges were later released on self-recognition after plans to arraign them stalled for reasons not disclosed by the DSS.
Reacting to the development, Justice Ademola said he was whisked away by the DSS because of the judgments he gave in the case involving the Federal Government and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu as well as the case between Col. Sambo Dasuki and the Federal Government.
Justice Ademola made this revelation in a letter titled: 'Report On The Unlawful Invasion Of The Residence Of Hon. Justice Adeniyi Francis Ademola On The 7th October, 2016 And My Abduction', which was directed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
Giving an account of the event that occurred on the 7th of October when the Department of State Security (DSS) raided his residence at No, 30 Ogbemudia Crescent, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, Justice Ademola said, “I saw at about 45 Masked Officers of the Department of Security Services ( DSS), all heavily armed pointing their guns at me. They flashed a document purported to be a Search Warrant and Ordered me to sign on a document claiming that that they had already conducted a search down stairs. They also added that I was totally under their control today as I have always made order against them (the DSS).
"After the search, which lasted for about (6) six hours, I was handed a document purported to be an Inventory of the Items found upon their search and they threatened me to sign it as being true. They threatened me if I did not sign it they would not leave me alone and whatever they did to me at that point would be recorded that I will not be alive to tell the story of what transpired between me and them that night.
“For fear and interest of my life, and unknown persons with mask on their faces, I collected the written items and signed the document.
"I was whisked away at about 6 am to the office of the DSS “without any Warrant of Arrest or reason for my arrest.
"The
Department of State Services (DSS) finally informed me that the search of my
residents and my arrest were based on these three allegations to wit:
i. Petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th of
April, 2016, to the National Judicial Council, (NJC).
ii. Granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and
unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
iii. Using my office to secure my wife's appointment
as the Head of Civil Service Lagos state through senator Bola Tinubu.
"After stating the grounds for the invasion as
stated above they requested for explanation for the money found in my
apartment, as well as two licensed firearms also found in my apartment.
"All the allegations that bother on Judicial decisions were supported with Certified True Copy of Proceedings showing that those applications were not oppose by Counsel representing the Department of Security Services (DSS) or Federal Government of Nigeria.
"On the money recovered in my absence they were unable to tell the exact amount recovered.
And I ask so explained that the appointment of my wife as Head of Services was based on merit and security.
"It is pertinent to add that I was allowed to go home after 48 hours and with the directive to be reporting at the office of the Department of Security Services (DSS) daily.
"When I returned back to my residence, my apartment was in shambles and totally inhabitable. The front door was totally dug out of the wall including the door frame. The door leading into the hallway - a heavy security metal door was badly broken and damaged beyond repair.
"The sofas in the Living Room were turned upside down and torn, and the door of my Bedroom broken.
"For this reason, I was not able to stay in my residence that night. So I moved down to stay in a Hotel as the house is no longer secure and habitable.
"I have been at the hotel from the night of Sunday 9th October. 2016 till date.
"Contrary, to the Media/ Report being circulated I have never confessed to any crime or implicated anybody including Judges in my statement obtained from me by the Department of Security Services (DSS).
"What is more intriguing in this whole episode, is that I see it as a vendetta/ revenge from the Hon. Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Mallami (SAN) whilst I was in Kano between 2004 - 2007 as a Federal High Court Judge was involved in a Professional Misconduct necessitating his arrest and detention by my order. However, with the intervention of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch the allegation of misconduct was later withdrawn by me".
"All the allegations that bother on Judicial decisions were supported with Certified True Copy of Proceedings showing that those applications were not oppose by Counsel representing the Department of Security Services (DSS) or Federal Government of Nigeria.
"On the money recovered in my absence they were unable to tell the exact amount recovered.
And I ask so explained that the appointment of my wife as Head of Services was based on merit and security.
"It is pertinent to add that I was allowed to go home after 48 hours and with the directive to be reporting at the office of the Department of Security Services (DSS) daily.
"When I returned back to my residence, my apartment was in shambles and totally inhabitable. The front door was totally dug out of the wall including the door frame. The door leading into the hallway - a heavy security metal door was badly broken and damaged beyond repair.
"The sofas in the Living Room were turned upside down and torn, and the door of my Bedroom broken.
"For this reason, I was not able to stay in my residence that night. So I moved down to stay in a Hotel as the house is no longer secure and habitable.
"I have been at the hotel from the night of Sunday 9th October. 2016 till date.
"Contrary, to the Media/ Report being circulated I have never confessed to any crime or implicated anybody including Judges in my statement obtained from me by the Department of Security Services (DSS).
"What is more intriguing in this whole episode, is that I see it as a vendetta/ revenge from the Hon. Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Mallami (SAN) whilst I was in Kano between 2004 - 2007 as a Federal High Court Judge was involved in a Professional Misconduct necessitating his arrest and detention by my order. However, with the intervention of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch the allegation of misconduct was later withdrawn by me".
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