The Nigerian Judicial Council, NJC, has said that it would not suspend the judges being investigated by the Department of State Security, DSS, over allegations of corruption.

Recall that the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, had suggested that the affected judges be asked to proceed on a compulsory leave, until their innocence or otherwise in the DSS’ allegations is fully and completely established.

However, in a statement on Friday, the NJC, dismissed the call by the NBA, saying that to suspend the judges would mean going against “the 2014 revised judicial discipline regulations formulated by NJC pursuant to section 160 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended”.

The council further stated that it shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person while exercising its disciplinary power of control over judicial officers in the federation.

It added that its constitutional mandate is to process and recommend to the executive at the federal and state levels, the appointment, and or the removal of judicial officers from office, including exercise of its disciplinary control of suspending and or warning judicial officers.