In a manner synonymous to coup d’état, fourteen (14) suspects, including an alleged fake Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Lawrence Ajodo, laid siege to the Abuja home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili, on Friday, October 29 2021. Though, they could not access into the premises, as a result of the commendable resistance by the security personnel deployed at Odili’s home.
The invasion which took Justice Mary Odili, known for her impeccable and excellent judicial service record by surprise also hit the Nigerian public as a shock including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Religious Community, the International Community among many others.
The more frustrating angle to this whole saga was that the search warrant they obtained from a Chief magistrate court, according to the suspect read No 7, while Mary Odili lives No. 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Following the public outcry and open condemnation of the broad daylight ‘terrorism’ on the revered Jurist, by eminent personalities including Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who alleged, the invasion was the Federal Government’s intimidation on the judiciary ahead of 2023 elections.
Nigerian Police Force who therefore swung into action and days after arrested and paraded a 14-man gang at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Headquarters, Area 10, Abuja, said seven other suspects, including two soldiers, were still at large.
On interrogation, the fake cop Ajodo, described himself as a consultant on recoveries to the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. An allegation, the Attorney-General Abubakar Malami denied in an interview in one of the televisions in the country, challenging Ajodo, to make public the evidence of his claims.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Frank Mba, the suspects who masterminded the attack were of different professional backgrounds operating as law enforcement officers, revealing that one of them who served as the whistleblower, Aliyu Umar, is an Islamic prayer warrior, Ali Ibrahim. A journalist, Stanley Nkwaezema, was also among those paraded. He further described the suspects as ‘loose cannons and document forgers’ who conspired to raid Odili’s residence on learning that the jurist had foreign currencies.
It is regrettable that the Executive arm of the government at both the federal and State governments are imposing itself, the god Jupiter, superimposing authority on all other arms of the government regardless of the constitutional spirit and letters on the Principle of Separation of Powers.
It is possible that the alleged criminals may have decided to use the Attorney General for the crime, on the notice the obvious interference of the Executive on the internal activities of the Judiciary and the Legislature probably to achieve its political interest.
It could be recalled that in the past, the executive has allegedly intimidated Supreme Judges by invading their residences in a crude manner like hardened criminals. Justice Onneghen’s case is a example of note.
Most times this intimidation is more on outstanding and promising Judges from the Southern part of the country.
We therefore urge the Executive arm of the government to serve justice with equity and fairness, respect other arms of the government and curtail the rascality of its attendants for better nation.
It is also our submission that the Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, who issued the search warrant, should further be investigated to ascertain his level of involvement and ensure that all involved should be brought to book
