DSS is not empowered by law to arrest – Afe Babalola

Afe Babalola, a renowned legal practitioner made a shocking claim of ‘DSS not being empowered by the law to arrest’ while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s News Night. 

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) alleged that the DSS’ constitutional job description is to gather information that might threaten the sovereignty of the nation, which they relay to the President. 

He made the disclosure while querying President Buhari over the raid of judges’ homes carried out by DSS operatives in 2016. Recall that while the Secret Police blamed the raid on receiving intelligence that some judges stashed large sums of currencies in their homes, it led to an outcry from various corners. 

Afe Babalola who maintained that the law outlined ways to deal with erring judges, added that the raid created fear in some judges from delivering judgement without fear or favour.

“The DSS duty in law is merely to gather information and give it to the President and all that. They are not to arrest,” he said.

“There are rules, laws of dealing with judges when they commit an offence. That has not been followed,” he added.