The Chairman, Welfare Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, has reacted to the raid on His Lordship, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (JSC) residence, by Security Agencies, in Abuja.
Media reports on Friday indicated that Mrs. Odili’s Maitama, Abuja residence, was raided by armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC has, however, said its officials did not carry out the raid. Another security agency, SSS, also denied carrying out the raid.
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Mrs. Odili is the wife of Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers State, who has been having a running battle with the anti-graft agency.
Recently, the Federal High Court in Abuja, restrained the EFCC and other security agencies in the country from arresting or prosecuting Mr Odili on account of his stewardship as governor between 1999 and 2007.
The court’s orders followed a suit that was instituted by Mr Odili against the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for impounding his international passport upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom in June this year.
The NIS in its defence had informed the presiding judge that it seized Mr Odili’s traveling documents based on a request by the EFCC.
But reacting to the invasion Maikyau, SAN, said: “The past few days’ events starting with the invasion of the home of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (JSC) by men of our Security Agencies is rather disturbing.
“More irking is the blame trading that followed this rather unfortunate incident.
“This invasion is one too many! It smacks of a deliberate attempt by Government to harass and intimidate its third arm (the Judiciary). Apart from the gross violation of His Lordship’s fundamental Right to private and family life guaranteed by our Constitution, the invasion is indisputably a rude disrespect to her judicial office.
“The NBA under the able leadership of Mr. Olumide Akpata has already taken a decisive stand against this misadventure by Government and its Security Agencies and I queue squarely behind the said position.
“Let it be known that an independent Judiciary is not just a desirable component of modern society, especially a democratic one, it is a necessity! And those that will attempt to harass the judiciary must be identified and made to face the dire consequences.
“I also join the call for the identification and sanction of any member(s) of our Association that is found complicit in this travesty.
“The Nigerian Judiciary will not be cowed by any person(s) – no matter how highly placed.
Long may Justice reign in our Nation! God bless the Lordships of the Nigerian judiciary!! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!”
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