Justice Mary Odili:’S Invasion: Lawyer Hussaini Lauds Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN’s Stance

Hussaini Hussaini the Deputy Chairperson of the NBA Young Lawyer’s Forum’s Capacity Building Committee, and a Partner at El-Rufai Attorneys at Law, Abuja, has commended the Welfare Committee Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN, for speaking up when it matters.

Hussaini while commending Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN, for condemning the illegal act exhibited by some security agencies said: “I have read with delight the brave and terse statement made by Mr. YC Maikyau, SAN on the invasion of the residence of my lord, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili.

“The incident is a clarion call on lawyers and people of conscience to protect the sanctity of the judiciary. 

“When the privacy and sanctuary of the custodians of the scale of justice is unjustifiably desecrated, it calls for the brave amongst us to speak in defense of justice and democracy.

“As rightly said by the learned silk, this invasion is indeed one too many, and intimidation of not just the judicial arm of government which serves as the last hope of the common man, but of the entire citizenry as aptly put by Mr. Maikyau, SAN, and I wholeheartedly agree, as a member of a noble profession.

“I also ally myself with the able leadership of our President of the NBA, Mr. Olumide Akpata, as he competently moves towards remedying the situation and ensuring that all the culprits involved in this ugly incident are brought to book.”

TheNigerialawyer reported on Friday 29th Oct. 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.

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.