Nigerians are apprehensive about the potential intimidation of the judicial arm of government, after the raid on the official residence of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili of the Supreme Court, by rogue security officials.
Many commentators are beginning to compare the development with the 2016 raid of some judges of the Federal High Court and Justices of the Supreme Court in the dead of the night, by the Department of State Security Services, over allegations that were not proved eventually.
While we do not wish to draw parallels since the circumstance with respect to Justice Odili’s case appears different, we join our voice with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed and other well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the raid by yet-to-be-identified security arm of the state. To make the case worse, the Magistrate’s Court that issued the search warrant has since withdrawn same, allegedly claiming that the court was misled by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
On his part, AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, has washed his hands off the raid, offering to appear before any panel of inquiry to plead his innocence. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which was initially called out for the raid, came out to forcefully deny any involvement. In fact the head of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, as soon as the news of the raid broke, spoke on Channels Television disassociating his agency from the raid. The Police IG, who said those responsible have been arrested, has failed to mention their names and who sent them.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also vehemently condemned the raid and vowed that the association would no longer condone such infractions. NBA President Olumide Akpata demanded that those responsible should be brought to book. He wondered how a group of rogue security men can raid the official residence of the second most senior judicial officer in our country, claiming to have the imprimatur of the AGF. The Body of Senior Advocates also warned about the grave constitutional infractions and the cavalier treatment of the judicial arm of government.
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We join our voice to reiterate that the judiciary is an independent arm of government, co-equal with the executive and the legislature. It is therefore scandalous that the agents of the executive would raid the home of the second most senior judicial officer without any organ of the state being held accountable. The lame excuse that a magistrate issued a search warrant for the house to be searched, based on a so called whistle blower’s report, without knowing the owner of the residence, is unacceptable.
The official residence of judicial officers are in exclusive areas, just as that of the top members of the executive and the legislative arm. So, it is unbelievable that those who raided the premises of Justice Odili are ignorant of their victim.
It’s, of course, not inconceivable that the target of the search was the Justice’s husband, Dr. Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State, who has a running battle with EFCC. The IGP investigation, following the arrest of the officers that carried out the raid, should find out definitive facts on that angle – and tell the public the investigative protocol concerning spouses of judicial officers who nevertheless are politically exposed persons.
Every legitimate angle must be covered and cleared. Otherwise, the public might fairly and legitimately believe the mission was to embarrass the learned justice. If that were so, then it’s the responsibility of the police to punish those involved for their indiscretion. On his part, the AGF who is the chief law officer must do more than mere denial.
Those who abuse the grundnorm of our democratic order are enemies of the state. They must be held accountable, no matter how highly placed. The NBA and the judiciary should demand for transparent investigation and trial of those responsible for the siege.