Protesters Storm Supreme Court, Demand Accused Judges Step Down

•  The placard-carrying protesters, who stormed the court as early as 8 a.m., demanded that all judges arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in connection with corruption issues step down pending the outcome of the trial.

A group of protesters under the aegis of The Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations In Nigeria (FNGOI) today marched on the nation’s Supreme Court in Abuja calling on the National Judicial Council to prevail upon all seven members of the bench accused of corruption to step down immediately.

The placard-carrying protesters, who stormed the court as early as 8a.m., demanded that all judges arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in connection with corruption issues step down pending the outcome of the trial.

Protester

The group also said that it wanted to make it clear that only those judges that have been accused of unethical conduct, and not the entire judicial arm of the government, is on trial.

The group accused the apex judicial body of trying to incite the masses against the government with the impression that the independence of the judiciary is under threat.  Their placards read messages such as, "Stop Corruption Before It Stops You"; "No Untouchable Judges and Justices"; "Sanitization of Judiciary Is Task That Must Be Done"; "Judges Under Investigation Must Step Down".

Anti-Corruption Team

The group also said that it wanted to make it clear that only those judges that have been accused of unethical conduct, and not the entire judicial arm of the government, is on trial.

The group accused the apex judicial body of trying to incite the masses against the government with the impression that the independence of the judiciary is under threat.  Their placards read messages such as, "Stop Corruption Before It Stops You"; "No Untouchable Judges and Justices"; "Sanitization of Judiciary Is Task That Must Be Done"; "Judges Under Investigation Must Step Down".