Abuja -An Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Steve Eke, has said that it is unconstitutional to ask the judges being investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) to vacate their offices
Eke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the call would have been proper if the investigation and recommendation was done by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
‘’The only body set up by the constitution to investigate judges is the NJC.
‘’What DSS is doing cannot stop the judges from sitting because they have no constitutional backing. What they are doing is an aberration,’’ Eke said.
Eke, who criticised the ‘’intimidation’’ of the judiciary by the executive arm, said the continued harassment of judges by the DSS amount to interference in the affairs the judiciary.
The lawyer said that he supported the war against corruption in all sectors, but cautioned that the fight should respect the rule of law and due process.’
Eke said that the sting operation by DSS on judges had threatened the rule of law.
According to him, with the current fear instilled into judges, there is a tendency for lopsided and biased judgments to be delivered by judges.
He said that the anti-graft war should be total and selective to being perceived as witch-hunting.
