The Nigerian Bar Association made a U-Turn on Thursday when it made calls for the immediate suspension of seven judges arrested by the State Security Service recently, whose arrests has earlier been condemned by the association.

According to CEOAFRICA’s source, premium times, The President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made the call at a valedictory court session in honour of a retiring Justice of the Court of Appeal, Sotonye Denton-West, a presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure.

Seven judges in five states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory were arrested after their homes were raided on October 7 by the SSS following allegations of corruption. The National Judicial Council, responsible for the sanction of judicial officers, was accused by the State Security Service of neglecting petitions written against the judges on allegations of corruption. The NJC denied the allegation by the State Security Service.

Mahmud, who had earlier described the raid of the judges’ homes and their subsequent arrests by the SSS as unlawful and an abuse of power by the operatives, said his recent decision is to safeguard the sanctity of the judiciary.

“In the interim, particularly having regards to what appears to be an ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between some of the judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts,” he said.

Ms Denton-West who until her retirement was a presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division said“The rule of law is observed when there is mutual respect between the authorities and those subject to authority and, between the powers that be and their subjects, in accordance with the law. For we are all subject to the law,” she said.