SIX JUDGES UNDER EFCC PROBE

No fewer than six judges of the High Court are under the watch of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged corruption.The judges, who are believed to be too close to litigants, are said to own properties that their sources of income could not match.One of the judges is said to own huge cash assets in some banks, including one at a new generation bank.He also owns properties, shares and farmlands in his home state.Another judge is being investigated for owning several accounts in an old generation bank and two new generation banks as well as significant stock in various companies.The judge, who is said to worth over N2bn is also believed to own several properties in Abuja, Lagos and Benin.Another judge of the Federal High Court is being investigated for having huge money in domiciliary accounts, shares and properties in Abuja, Lagos and in a northern state.It was also gathered that another female judge owns an apartment in London, with a luxury German car parked at the property for her use whenever she visits the United Kingdom. A judge acquired so much that he bought a three-star hotel in one of the states in the geo-political zone as well as a mansion close to the property.Another judge under investigation is believed to have acquired the illicit assets in controversial circumstances before she became a judge.There is also information that another judge under investigation mismanaged money meant for the state judiciary in her custody.Effort to reach the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, failed as calls placed to his cell phones revealed their his lines were switched off.Media report said the EFCC was foot-dragging on the issue because of the personalities involved in the alleged corruption.The EFCC chair, Ibrahim Lamorde, was said to be waiting for clearance from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar before the anti-corruption agency could prosecute them.