High Court Judge cries out over invasion of his house by Police

The Judge in charge of Kogi State High Court 5 Lokoja, Justice Yunusa Musa has raised alarm over the invasion of his house by men of the Nigeria Police Force without his knowledge.

Justice Musa in an interaction with newsmen on Sunday, July 14, said the Police had on July 8 stormed his resident in Lokoja in search of his security attaché named Nelson, who was at large as at the time of this report.

According to him, all this happened when he was in the office attending to over seven cases lined up before him.

He said the Police ransacked his house, caused panic within the neighborhood without any search warrant as stipulated by law.

"They entered my house, searched everywhere, including my backyard. My wife and children were all scared looking for somewhere to hide. People outside, including artisans, mechanics were surprised that Policemen invaded the house of an High Court Judge, looking for God know what", he said. 

The Kogi State High Court Judge presented to newsmen a letter of invitation signed by one DCP Polycap Dibia, Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal investigation dated July 9, 2019, which reads: "This office is investigating a case of Mischief and Criminal intimidation against Nelson who is the security at your resident here in Lokoja.To assist our investigation, you are requested to produce the said Nelson on or before 11th July, 2019 to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Lokoja through the officer in-charge of miscellaneous unit. Your response in this regard will be appreciated please ".

Justice Musa who condemned the invasion of his home without a search warrant, maintained that the Police was yet to give him any cogent reason for the act, adding that he is scared something incriminating might have been planted in his house by the Nigeria Police.

The High Court Judge further stressed that, offences committed by somebody cannot be visited on another person, saying, “there is no vicarious liability in criminal offence ". 

Justice Musa narrated his ordeal, "when I came back from work on July 8, my family members told me that some Policemen came to my house, searching for my private security. At first, I thought they were men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). When I got the letter the following day, then I knew it was the Deputy Commissioner that sent them to invade my house on ground that my Civilian Security by name Nelson went to assault somebody. And my security didn't tell me that he has problem with anybody. Except that he said his mother was heal and travel to their village. They conducted search everywhere even when I was not at home. No search warrant was even dropped. They threatened that they are going to come back again. When I got the letter, I was surprise because I have never experienced such a thing in my 20 years on the High Court bench.

I told my Chief Registrar about what took place and he wrote to the Commissioner of Police expressing surprise. Up till now, there is nothing being done by the Deputy Commissioner of Police withdrawing that letter of invitation even though I am not aware of what happened. It was as if I was the person that went to fight with somebody. Giving me that deadline, I was expecting him to come and arrest me. I am yet to hear from my security to actually know what happened. Since he traveled to the village, I couldn't get in touch with him because they don't have network in their village. Please note, it was when I got this letter from the Deputy Commissioner of Police that I knew they were in my house because of my security. This house doesn't belong to my security. He couldn't have claimed ignorance that this is my own house because, if he could write, address to my office asking me to come with my security, it means he knew that this is my own house, but decided to go ahead to conduct search without a search warrant. If they fail to withdraw the letter, I know what to do. One thing remains, I didn't fight anybody, so somebody alleged offence cannot be transferred to me. The shock of the incident has not enable me to know if any document is missing in my house or something was planted”.

When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, William Aya told Our Kogi Correspondent that his office was yet to be briefed on the matter, but assured that he will get back to our correspondent as soon as possible.

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