Supreme Court and Elections Tribunal Judges Placed on Security Watch

                          

Supreme Court Judges and other  Judges appointed to serve in elections Tribunal in states such Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Yobe, Gombe, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Delta and Taraba states have been placed on tight security watch due to corruption and rumour of bribery.

The Federal Government is worried that some Governors and some candidate in the last general elections are becoming desperate to influence the decisions of the Court.
According to The Nation some governors are been investigated for allegedly paying for a Judge vacation trip.
Also some petitioners and defenders are offering Mouth watering bribes to judges to sway decision to their favour.this development have infuriated president Buhari who has ordered security agencies to bring corrupt Judges to book.the visit of Governor Nyesome Wike of River state to the CJN Justice Mahmood Mohammed further trigger the need for Judges to be placed under watch by security agencies and also protected.

The new administration is out to protect the sanctity of the judiciary. The era of impunity, judgment-fixing and hijack of the court or tribunals for selfish ends is gone,” a source said.
 “The position of the Buhari administration is that each litigant and respondent should go to the tribunals to defend his or her petition. This position applies to all political parties.”

“The serving governor has been boasting that there is no judgment he cannot fix because he has the head of one of the courts at his beck and call. He also said he will be paying for vacation trips of some judges
"The former Chief Justice of Nigeria threatened to sanction the said head of a court when insinuations of his under-the-table deals got to her.
“The ex-governor is also noted for bragging that there is nothing money cannot buy.”
A source at the Supreme Court, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the development.

The source said: “All judges are really on security watch-list, including those at the apex court. 

The security agents were called in to monitor judges and movement of money.
“There is no tribunal sitting without any official of the Department of State Services attached to it.
“But there are more discreet security personnel putting close tabs on election petition tribunals than those officially attached.
“The position of the government is that these judges must be allowed to discharge their duties without fear or favour.”
The Chief Justice of Nigerian due to this development banned all Politician from his residence
He also directed that his security detail from the State Security Service (SSS) and police orderly will henceforth be part of any interaction with Politically Exposed Lawyers seeking audience with him.and also limits Official courtesy call from governors with outstanding petition at elections tribunal.