Anthony Iwuoma
Foremost Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has described the invasion of Justice Mary Odili’s Abuja residence by security agents as a ‘mockery of democracy’.
Recal that the home of the Supreme Court Justice was, last week, raided under controversial circumstances, an action that has drawn the ire of most Nigerians.
The invasion of Justice Odili’s residence might have been triggered by false alarm raised by a whistleblower, one Aliyu Umar, who claimed to have observed illegal activities going on at the property, No. 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, on which basis the Joint Panel Recovery unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice obtained a warrant from an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court to search the house.
However, when members of the panel stormed the house with the police, it turned out to be the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili, who is also the wife of former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, who has been having running battles with the EFCC and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Justice Odili reportedly resisted the the search on the house, insisting it was her personal house, not her husband’s.
Consequently, the raid has been roundly condemned by a cross section of Nigerians.
A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, the pan Igbo group, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said the the invasion was “ethically reprehensible and globally unacceptable” and urged the Federal Government to tender an unreserved apology to Justice Odili.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide joins millions of Nigerians in condemning the invasion of the privacy of Justice Mary Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement read.
“We are pained that Nigeria is in the news, most of the time, for the wrong reasons. It is ethically reprehensible and globally unacceptable for the executive to invade the home of a senior member of the judicial arm of the government, in this case, a Supreme Court Judge.
“It is simply a mockery on democracy and a foul miasma on the image of Nigeria. The siege on her home is an assault on several institutions; womanhood, judiciary, democracy, Rule of Law, civil society and indeed all facets of humanity.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Ambassador Professor Obiozor advises the relevant authorities that part of the roles of any person recruited by the government for any position whatsoever includes the protection of the image of the chief executive at all times.
“It is regrettable that officers in federal government often over reach themselves thereby lending the presidency and indeed Nigeria a bad name in the comity of nations.”
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), in a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochiyere said, “We received with shock, the Friday’s invasion of the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, by armed security agents,” describing the invasion as ungodly and illegal in its entirety.
President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Olumide Akpata, in a statement on behalf of the NBA, said “the event is an affront on the judiciary and grossly undermines the democracy that we profess to practise”, adding that the association would hold an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) on the matter “solely to discuss this issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a statement, by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, denied involvement in “any way connected with the fabrications and concocted lies linking him to the ensued imbroglio relating to news stories about the residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court; Justice Mary Odili.
“It is important to set the record straight that as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, Malami will not stoop too low to be associated with an apparent in-elegant and nasty court process on the strength of which the purported search warrant was procured,” the statement read.
However, describing the incident as an attempt on the lives of the family members of Justice Odili, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, stated that it was not enough for the Federal Government and its officials, particularly the Attorney General of the Federation to say they were not involved warned that the Federal Government would be held responsible for whatever evil that may befall any member of the family.
The Inspector General of Police has vowed to punish policemen involved in the invasion.