Odili’s house invasion: Reps kick as Wike, Rivers’ Elders issue 48-hour ultimatum
…Demand identity of invaders
…Invasion capable of setting executive, judiciary on warpath — Reps
…FG’s attempt devised to intimidate and cow the Judiciary — NBA
By Moses Adeniyi and Uthman Salami
As reactions continue to trail last week’s invasion of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili’ house by security forces, the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary has expressed displeasure over the raid, describing the invasion as “capable of setting the executive and judicial arms of government on a warpath.”
Recall that some security agents had on Friday evening invaded the judge’s residence in the Maitama area of Abuja with a search warrant over alleged illegal activities in the building.
While reacting to the incursion, the Chairman of the Committee, Onofiok Luke said that the action of the security agents was capable of setting the executive and judicial arms of government on a warpath.
While describing the action of the security as illegality, the committee further demanded for a thorough investigation into the invasion
The investigation, according to them, would help to unmask the invaders of the judge’s residence.
They described the siege on Justice Odili’s home as a repudiation of judicial independence and an assault on the sanctity on the nation’s judiciary.
In a statement received by Nigerian NewsDirect, the Committee said, “It is mind-boggling that in the dusk of 29 October 2021, the judiciary was once again exposed to public opprobrium, due to the uncanny manner in which the residence of the Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was invaded by law enforcement officials purportedly on an assignment to execute a search warrant, issued by a Magistrate.
“Also disturbing is the fact that the said warrant was revoked by the issuing Magistrate who had discovered that it was procured by the Applicant on the premises of misrepresented facts.
“As a Committee currently interfacing with the Judiciary for an improved judicial reform and justice system, we wish to lend our voice once again, to the repeated call by His Lordship; the Honourable Justice Tanko Muhammed CJN, on all Judicial Officers on the need to exercise more caution in issuing ex-parte, conflicting and questionable orders that are capable of bringing disrepute to our Justice system.
“This unfortunate development is also a wake-up call to tighten administrative and supervisory control over the operations of law enforcement agencies in the country.
“To this end, we empathize with the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation who is constitutionally accountable for the actions and inactions of the law enforcement agents that purportedly executed the said warrant, placing on the AGF, the unavoidable burden of defending his office before the populace.
“On this note, the House of Representative Committee on the Judiciary calls for a discreet investigation to unravel the persons behind this ignoble act, which is capable of straining the existing relationship between the Judiciary and the Executive arms of our democratic government.
“The siege is reminiscent of the 2016 incident, where in the beat of the night, security agencies invaded private residences of judicial officers, which subsequently turned out as an underserved phenomenon, and a dent on our professed independence of the judiciary, and demanding protection for our judges.
“As we already know, the judiciary harps on due process in the dispensation of justice and the House Committee on the Judiciary avows to collaborate with the judiciary and relevant stakeholders to secure the nation’s democracy, since the confidence and respect of citizens in the judiciary may likely wane if the incidence of this nature continues unchecked.
“We, therefore, condemn in totality such ignoble action, and pledge to every effort at ensuring the sanctity of the nation’s judiciary while giving our continuous support to the independence of the judiciary.”
FG’s attempt devised to intimidate and cow the Judiciary — NBA
In the build of reactions, no less than five branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Imo State on Sunday describing the invasion as “Gestapo-like invasion/siege by unknown security agents,” accused the Federal Government of deliberately fighting to cow and intimidate the judiciary.
A statement issued by the Chairmen of the five branches, J.I. Ogamba, Chairman, NBA Owerri Branch; Chief A.U. Ugboaja, Chairman, NBA Mbaise Branch; R.C. Ndeme, Chairman, NBA Okigwe Branch; B.A. Munonye, Chairman, NBA Orlu Branch and Chief Richard Anyanwu, Chairman, NBA Mbano/Etiti Branch described the invasion of the Abuja residence of Justice Odili, as “reprehensible, roguish, barbaric and abominable” by rogue security agencies.
They called for an investigation into the invasion, describing it as a reflection that “the shield bearers of our democracy (Judiciary) are now easy preys to the same security agencies who are meant to protect them.”
The statement read, “On Friday, October 29, 2021, the Nigerian airwaves were inundated with the unfortunate news of the Gestapo-like invasion/siege by unknown security agents, at the Abuja residence of Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC. This barbaric invasion is reminiscent of the better-forgotten and unsavoury invasions of the houses of justices and judges by officers of the Department of State Services in a purported ‘sting operation’ in 2016.
“Whereas the purported Order made by the Magistrate Court, Wuse, has been revoked by the Magistrate who made the same; whereas all the relevant security agencies have denied involvement in this unfortunate incident; and whereas the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has come out to deny knowledge of this barbaric action by rogue security agencies, this goes to show that the shield bearers of our democracy (Judiciary) are now easy preys to the same security agencies who are meant to protect them.
“Lawyers in Imo State strongly condemn this reprehensible, roguish, barbaric and abominable invasion of the residence of the Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC, who is the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court. We view this incident as a continuation of the unrelenting attempts and efforts by the government of the day to intimidate and cow the Judiciary.
“Furthermore, we call for a thorough investigation into the sequence of events culminating into this invasion, and for all those culpable to be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.
“This is to serve as a deterrent to would-be overzealous security agents and their collaborators in power who may be tempted to embarrass and ridicule the judiciary.”
Wike, Rivers’ Elders issue 48-hour ultimatum to FG
In reaction, Governor Nyesom Wike and leaders of Rivers State have on Sunday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to nail the masterminders of the invasion of the residence of Justice Odili.
The Rivers leaders warned that should anything sinister happen to Justice Odili, her husband and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, the Federal government should be held accountable.
Governor Wike who made the assertion on behalf of Rivers State elders, Federal and state Lawmakers and council chairmen during a press briefing at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Sunday, said they have observed a pattern of persistent harassment of the Odili’s family in recent times by alleged agents of the Federal government.
He charged the Federal government to within 48 hours apprehend all those involved in the raid of the residence of the Supreme Court justice, the alleged whistleblower and also interrogate the Magistrate who issued the order.
Wike recalled that on a day the Supreme Court nullified the election victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, hoodlums suspected to be political thugs invaded the residence of Justice Odili, but the Federal government steer cleared from taking steps to bring the culprits to book.
Governor Wike who took note of the confiscation of Peter Odili’s international passport by the Immigration Service, alleged that initially the Federal Government had feigned ignorance of the seizure of Odili’s passport.
Governor Wike said the people of Rivers State feared that the motive of those who invaded Odili’s residence may have been to assassinate the Supreme Court justice, her husband and children.
He declared that the lives of Justice Odili and her husband are important to the people of Rivers State and that the Federal Government must ensure nothing sinister happens to them.
Following the slam that trailed the development over the week end, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had denied knowledge of the operation and ordered a probe into the invasion, which was allegedly said to have been carried out by the Joint Panel Recovery Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Political observers have linked the Friday storming of the residence of the Justice, not to be unconnected with her husband’s, the former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili’s probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption.
It would be recalled that Odili had last year secured a perpetual injunction, granted by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, restraining the anti-graft agency from probing or prosecuting him for corruption.
However, while the EFCC had denied involvement in the invasion, it would be recalled in a recent development that the Nigeria Immigration Service had recently seized Odili’s passport at the airport.
Mary Odili is a Nigerian Judge and wife of Peter Odili who served as Governor of Rivers State from 1999 to 2007. She was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) by President Goodluck Jonathan and was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Katsina-Alu on 23 June 2011.
