Raid Of Odili JSC’s Home: NBA President, Akpata Seeks Audience With President Buhari

*Says He Has Mandated NBA-SPIDEL Chair, Monday Ubani, To Lead Investigation In The Matter
*Says FCT Chief Judge Is Probing The Magistrate Who Issued The Search Warrant

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has vowed to get to the bottom of last Friday’s raid on the home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

It demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari set up an independent investigative panel to unravel those behind the incident.

NBA President Olumide Akpata, who met with journalists in Lagos, warned that should the President fail to so act, lawyers would take legal action.

“In the next two weeks, if I don’t see any traction, we have to recalibrate. I have personally asked to see the President of Nigeria. I will follow up on this until I see the president and I am quite certain that I will,” Akpata said

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, have separately denied authorising the raid or knowledge of it.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Services (SSS), both of which were also linked to the invasion, had denied involvement.

The IGP has also ordered an investigation of his men involved in the incident.

But the NBA noted that the said policemen appeared to be from the AGF’s office, adding that because the AGF cannot investigate himself, Malami would be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), if he is indicted by any panel.

The NBA, Akpata added, had set up a special investigator, Monday Ubani, to lead its investigation of the matter.

Ubani, a former NBA Vice President, will have a two-week mandate to begin to get answers from the government.

Akpata further disclosed that the Magistrate who signed the search warrant executed on Justice Odili’s house is under investigation by the FCT Chief Judge.
“If it means getting an ex parte order to make sure this never happens again, we will,” Akpata vowed.

He added: “As I speak to you, letters are being written to the President, National Assembly. In the letter, I didn’t give the president two weeks to set up the panel, I said set up the panel immediately.

“I am saying to you that if we don’t see action in two weeks, then we’ll move to plan B.”