Arrested Nigerian judges freed on bail

Seven judges detained over the weekend by Nigeria’s Department of State services on suspicion of corruption have been released on self recognisance bail.

They were reportedly released on Sunday but reported at the security agency on Monday for investigation purposes, a source told AFP.

Nigeria’s judiciary has criticised the arrest of the judges who are said to be part of 15 judges under investigation for corrupt practices since April.

The head of Nigeria’s judiciary, Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has described the mode of arrest of the seven judges, including two Supreme Court judges, as “very saddening and deeply regrettable.”

He announced an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council on Tuesday to “comprehensively look into the matter.”

Federal authorities said they have seized 800,000 dollars during a raids of the homes of magistrates throughout the country.

The DSS said the raid was conducted due to lack of cooperation of the National Judicial Council who refused for the judges concerned to be interviewed by the secret police services in April 2016.