Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court,
Abuja, on Friday berated the Department of State
Security (DSS) for flouting an order of the court to
remand a defendant in prison.
Mr. Dimgba had ordered that a retired Air
Commodore, Umar Mohammed, who was arraigned
before him on Thursday, be remanded in Kuje
Prison pending the hearing of his bail application.
But the SSS failed to produce him in court on Friday
while his counsel argued his bail application.
Mr. Dimgba said he took strong exception to the
service’s disregard of the court’s order by keeping
the defendant in its custody, describing it as an
embarrassment to democracy.
“I take a strong exception to this type of behaviour;
when the court orders that someone be kept in
prison custody, the person ought to be kept in
prison and not in the office.
“If the people at the DSS want to become judge and
do their job as well, I am ready to vacate my office
for them, but as long as I am still here, I take an
exception to them flouting the orders of the court.
“Once processes have been filed in court, it is no
longer in their hands and the order of the court
must be obeyed,’’ Mr. Dimgba said.
He asked the prosecuting counsel, E.A Orji, to
convey the grievances of the court to the Attorney-
General and Minister of Justice.
The judge adjourned ruling on the bail application
until 2 p.m.
Counsel to Mr. Mohammed, Hassan Liman, had
told the court that the SSS whisked Mr. Mohammed
away immediately after the court proceedings ended
on Thursday.
But the prosecuting counsel explained that the
defendant was taken to the SSS office for some
documentation.
Mr. Mohammed is charged with money laundering,
possession of fire arms and violation of provision of
Official Secret Act.
The defendant is a retired Air Force officer and was
a member of the presidential team investigating the
arms deal in the country.
(NAN)
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-
news/207336-angry-judge-says-sss-conduct-
disgrace-democracy-threatens-vacate-office.html
news/207336-angry-judge-says-sss-conduct-
disgrace-democracy-threatens-vacate-office.html
