Socio-political Group says Corrupt Judges’ are under attack, not Judiciary

A socio-political group, National Support Groups for Good Governance (NASUGG) says contrary to opinions in some quarters, the judiciary is not under attack.

National Coordinator of the group, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, made this assertion at a news briefing on Monday in Abuja.

Speaking at the backdrop of the recent arrest of some judges in the country by the Department of State Service on an allegation of corruption, Maduekwe said it was corrupt judges that were under attack.

He said that the issue had generated sentimental reactions, but cautioned that nobody was above the law.

Maduekwe advised Nigerians to be objective in their comments on the matter so as not to create unnecessary tension.

“We believe that the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man. We have men and women of impeccable character on the Bench and Bar of the very revered profession.

“We also believe that Nigerians respect and appreciate those judges who have given landmark judgments that are points of reference even in international cases till date.

“The point must now be made most clearly that the judiciary is not under attack. It is the corrupt judges that are under attack and should be jailed if found guilty,’’ Maduekwe said.

He said that corruption should be regarded as a sin and that the onus was on every honest person to own up and tackle it.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is leading, not by `do as I tell you but by doing as I do’ and just like he said `if we do not kill corruption, it will kill us’.

“Corruption is a sin. Support the DSS, EFCC, and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute corrupt people, no matter how highly placed and they should also purge themselves.

“Let us support the president in the fight against corruption and corrupt people,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some members of the coalition include National Youth Council, Youth Initiative for Leadership civil society groups. 

[NAN]