IS IT LAWFUL FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS TO BE INVOLVED IN BAIL OF ACCUSED PERSONS?

Dasuki V. Director-General, S.S.S. [2020]10 NWLR PT.1731 PG. 136-143

On whether civil servants or public officers can be involved in bail of accused persons - Per ADAH, J.C.A. at page 153, paras. F-A:

"Let me quickly say that of concern it is to us that as a court we must be ready and sensitive enough not to allow or do anything that will run foul of the law. 

The issue of involving civil servants or Public Officers in the Public Service of the Federation and the State in bail of people accused of criminal offences has never been the practice in Nigeria or any part of the civilized world. It was an oversight on our part to allow it in. Our Civil and Public Service Rules do not have any room for it. 

Expecting a Level 16 Servant to own property worth N100,000,000, will be running counter to the Public Service Rules and by extension the war against corruption. It is in this respect that I will act ex debito justitiae to ensure that the aspect of involving serving Public Servant below the status of Level 16 Officer in either the state or Public Service of the Federation or any of its agencies be removed and I so order."