A number of Nigerian judges may be facing sanctions for allegedly receiving stipends and vehicles from the office of the National Security Adviser when the embattled Col Sambo Dasuki occupied the position.
According to sources cited by The Nation, security and anti-graft agencies are investigating the activities and conduct of the judges for actions bordering on abuse of oath.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) which has already sanctioned more than nine judges this year alone for different reasons, is said to be presently reviewing several petitions before it in connection to the matter.
Anti-corruption agencies are reported to have stumbled on documents showing that some Nigerians judges were on monthly stipends from the ONSA. The said stipends were disbursed from an account which was tagged “Security Vote”.
Some judges also benefited from the account in form of “assistance”; others were bought Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for official purpose.
One security source said: “In one instance, there were allegations that some outstanding allowances and SUVs were purchased from the account for judges based on a request by some heads of some courts.
“Many contingency requests were accommodated from the three arms of government by ONSA under the guise of Security Vote. This is one of the reasons why the prosecution is opposed to the open trial of ex-National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki.”
Meanwhile, the NJC is said to have more than 20 petitions against Nigerian judges in the lower and appellate courts.
A member of the NJC said: “There are many outstanding petitions before the NJC against more judges. These allegations border on delay in delivering judgment, abuse of judicial oath, request for bribe and others.”
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