Judge says DSS is ‘disgrace to democracy’

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Abuja Federal High Court has lampooned the DSS for going against a court order regarding remanding a defendant in prison. The judge had earlier instructed that one retired Air Commodore Umar Mohammed, who was arraigned before him on Thursday, July 21, be remanded in Kuje Prison until the hearing of his bail application.

On the other hand, the security agency failed to bring the retired Air Commodore to court on Friday, July 22, while his counsel prayed for his bail application. Dimgba stated that he took a strong exception to the DSS’s contempt 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,” the infuriated judge stated. Dimgba asked the prosecuting counsel EA Orji, to relay the frustrations of the court to the Attorney-General of the Federation and justice minister Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Subsequently, the judge adjourned ruling on the bail application until 2 p.m of Friday, July 22, while Counsel to one Mohammed Hassan Liman, informed the court that the security agency took Mohammed away with speed following the termination of the court’s proceedings on Thursday, July 21. On the other hand the counsel to the government informed that the defendant was taken to the DSS office for some documentation. Mohammed was charged with money laundering, possession of fire arms and violation of provision of Official Secret Act. The defendant was said to be one of the guards of the president. He is a retired Air Force officer and was a member of the presidential team investigating the arms deal in the country.

Source: Naij.com