The Department of State Service [DSS] has handed over the investigation of allegations of corruption against the arrested judges to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].
It could be recalled that seven judges of the federation had been raided on October 8 in a sting operation over allegations of massive bribery and corruption.
DSS operatives had executed the raids in various cities of the nation viz: Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Sokoto and Gombe respectively.
The Port Harcourt episode, however, was foiled due to the intervention of the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
Consequently, the anti-graft agency has, based on a directive from the Presidency, commenced painstaking investigation into the allegation.
Elombah.com gathered that the switch is not unconnected to the hoopla that attended the arrest of the affected judges.
Nigerians from all walks of life had risen in total condemnation of the “Gestapo-style” invasion of the judges, some as early as 1:00a.m.
The Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] had, not only condemned the raid but, gone as far as declaring a state of emergency on judiciary.
The Nigerian Judiciary Council [NJC] followed suit but issuing press statements against the actions of DSS and threatened dire consequence if the judges were not released immediately.
Following the hoopla generated by the arrest, the DSS was directed by the presidency to, as a matter of urgency, hands off the cases.
EFCC, on the other hand, has commenced discreet investigation into allegations of corruption against the affected judges.
Also, in a swift display of dexterity, the EFCC had invited four Senior Advocates of Nigeria [SAN] for interrogation.
They are being interrogated for allegedly transferring huge amounts of funds into the accounts of some serving judges under probe.
Earlier, the commission had quizzed four Senior Advocates of Nigeria in connection with the ongoing investigation of judges in the country.
The lawyers reported to the Lagos office of the commission and were interrogated and released on Thursday.
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