By; JOSHUA I. EGBODO, Abuja.
The House of Representatives has invited Director General, Department of State Servicrs (DSS), Lawal Musa to explain how the Service derived the power to arrest judges over allegations of corrupt practices.
To this end, the House has resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee which would engage Service, and report back its findings within six weeks.
This followed a motion moved under matters of urgent public importatnce, by Kingsley Chinda, who called for an investigation into the matter, saying he was not aware that the duties of the DSS as spelt out by its establishing Act include matter related to corruption.
Chinda argued that “We are aware of various media reports of the invasion of the residences and arrest of some judges of the Ferderal High courts and Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the wee hours of Friday October 8 at Abuja, Gombe, Enugu, Sokoto, Kano and Port Harcourt.
“We are also aware of the press release by the spokesperson of the SSS confirming this worrisome incident and the reason stated therein. We are aware of the provisions of Section 153(1) (I) and part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 (as amended), establishing the NJC with powers to regulate and discipline judicial officers in the country.
“The powers of the SSS as enumerated in sections (2) (3) and (6) of the national security agencies Act 1986; which does not include the investigation and prosecution of corruption and abuse of office”, adding that it was good to first establish where the service derived its powers to carry out the act, before talking about the procedures.
Speaker Yakubu Dogara refused open debate on the motion, said the House would have to investigate the matter first. ” I don’t want members to prejudge the matter. It is after the investigation that we can make informed statements”, he noted after which the motion was adopted through voice votes.
