The houses of two Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices Walter Onnoghen and Sylvester Ngwuta, as well as two judges of the Federal High Court, Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba, were invaded by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
The raid reportedly occurred between Friday night and Saturday morning.
“After the raid, Justice Ademola was whisked away at about 5am. During the operation, a brother to Justice Dimgba was allegedly beaten,” the LEADERSHIP newspaper reported.
Justice Onnoghen and Justice Ngwuta live at the Judicial Officers’ Quarters, while Justices Ademola and Dimgba stay at the Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.
The report quoted some sources as saying that the DSS operatives came with doubtful search warrants bearing incorrect names.
It added that the DSS is yet to make any comment on why it invaded the houses of the judges.
Walter Onnoghen is expected to be the next Chief Justice of Nigeria, following a recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission to the National Judicial Council, for further recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He is expected to replace current CJN Mahmud Mohammed who is set to retire on November 10, when he will have reached the compulsory retirement age of 70 years.
Meanwhile in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, operatives of the DSS and some police personnel were reported to have raided the residence of a Federal High Court judge.
The PUNCH newspaper reported that the security operatives had stormed the residence to arrest the judge but the attempt failed because of the arrival of the state governor, Nyesom Wike at the scene.
“Our correspondent gathered that the state governor, Nyesom Wike, who rushed to the scene, was harassed by the operatives,” the report stated.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said “the illegal failed abduction was led by Mr. Tosin Ajayi, Rivers State Director of the Department of State Services and Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Francis Odesanya.”
He added that the operatives of DSS reportedly rough-handled Governor Wike, pushing him around and injuring his hand.
“A few of the operatives cocked their rifles and threatened to shoot the Governor,” Nwakaudu said.
It was learnt that Governor Wike received security information on the illegal moves, minutes after the operation started.
“The security operatives blocked the entrance of the residence of the Federal High Court judge at about 1am on Saturday morning, claiming that they were acting on orders from above.
“As they dragged Governor Wike, they insisted that they must be allowed to leave with the judge,” the governor’s aide said.