Olumide Akpata, president of the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), says the invasion of Mary Odili’s residence is an “affront” on the
judiciary.
The NBA president also said the association will hold a
meeting with heads of “relevant” security agencies to get more information on
the issue.
Security operatives had, on Friday, invaded the house of
Odili, a justice of the supreme court, on the claim that “illegal activities”
were going on at the house.
The warrant presented to search the property was issued by
Emmanuel Iyanna, a chief magistrate at Wuse zone 6 magistrate court, in favour
of one Lawrence Ajodo, identified as a chief superintendent of police and a
member of the investigation team under the asset tax recovery panel of the
ministry of justice.
The warrant, however, did not bear the name or the correct
residential address of the supreme court justice.
While Odili’s address is 7, Imo river street, Maitama, the
address on the warrant is 9, Imo street, Maitama.
The magistrate has since revoked the warrant.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
refuted claims that it was involved in the raid, while Abubakar Malami,
attorney-general of the federation, has ordered a probe into the invasion.
Reacting to the situation via a statement on Saturday,
Akpata said the fact that the EFCC and Malami have denied their involvement in
the operation, “suggests the inference that the residence of the second most
senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies”.
“The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to
be desired,” he said.
“When viewed in the context of a similar raid on the
premises of supreme court justices in 2016, the rationale of which was never
fully explained or indeed justified, the NBA interprets last night’s incident
as a part of an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate
and ridicule the Judiciary. The NBA will no longer allow this to continue.
“In case the law
enforcement agencies have not learnt their lessons, events like this do nothing
but erode the independence of sacred democratic institutions like the
Judiciary, undermine the rule of law in Nigeria, and set the country back in
the quest to instill confidence in citizens of Nigeria, Nigerian businesses,
and foreign investors that Nigeria operates a democracy with an independent
judiciary.
“I have spoken with my lord, Peter-Odili JSC, and I am happy
to report that she is alive and well. Beyond that, however, it is my pledge to
Nigerians that the NBA will get to the root of this matter.
“In line with the aims and objectives of the NBA which
include the protection and defence of the independence of the Judiciary and the
Rule of Law in Nigeria, we will be convening an emergency meeting of the NBA
National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take a definitive
stand on behalf of the NBA.
“I will also lead a delegation to the honourable
attorney-general of the federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN and the relevant
heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the circumstances
of this incident.
“Thereafter, the NBA will ensure that all those responsible
for this unfortunate incident are brought to book. We must do all that is
required to safeguard the independence of our Judiciary and indeed protect our
hard-won democracy.”
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