Justice Odili: We will no longer tolerate judicial intimidation —NBA

The Nigerian Bar Association, through its President, Olumide Akpata, has stated that intimidation of the judiciary will no longer be tolerated.

This is in response to security operatives raiding the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili in Abuja on Friday.

In a statement, Akpata described the incident as part of a coordinated effort to intimidate and ridicule the judiciary.

This comes after he pledged to lead a delegation to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, as well as relevant heads of security agencies, to seek more information about the incident.

Read Also:  NAF will carry out the recommendations of the Committee on Armed Forces Reform

“The Nigerian Bar Association received with grave concern news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, last night by officers of one or more Nigerian security agencies,” the statement read.

“Almost 24 hours later, information about the basis of the siege remains hazy and subject to speculation, aside from reports that the invasion was carried out in response to a search warrant issued by an Abuja Magistrate Court, which search warrant has since been revoked.”

“The Honourable AGF, under whose office the team that purportedly carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled, has also reportedly denounced the team, implying that rogue security agencies raided the residence of Nigeria’s second most senior judicial officer.”

Read Also:  Bandits kill five people and injure many more in Katsina

“This possibility’s grave implications leave a lot to be desired.

“When viewed in the context of a similar raid on the homes of Supreme Court Justices in 2016, the NBA interprets last night’s incident as part of an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate and ridicule the Judiciary,” according to the NBA. This will no longer be tolerated by the NBA.

“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 Nigerian citizens, Nigerian businesses, and foreign investors that the country operates as a democracy with an independent judiciary.”

“I spoke with My Lord, Peter-Odili JSC, and I am pleased to report that she is still alive and well.” Beyond that, I guarantee Nigerians that the NBA will get to the bottom of the problem.

“In keeping with the NBA’s goals and objectives of protecting and defending the independence of the judiciary and the Rule of Law, we will call an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take a firm stance on behalf of the NBA.”

Read Also:  2023: Governors and elders are upbeat as the PDP holds its convention

“I will also lead a delegation to the Honourable AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek additional clarification on the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

“The NBA will make certain that all those responsible for this tragic incident are held accountable. We must do everything possible to protect the independence of our judiciary and, by extension, our hard-won democracy.”