Justice Odili home raid: NBA demands punishment for security agencies

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned Friday’s raid of the Abuja residence of the former Rivers Governor, Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court.

NBA President Olumide Akpata demanded that those responsible for the act must be brought to book.

Akpata, in a statement, noted that the security team, which carried out the raid, was allegedly linked by some to the AGF’s office but the Minister had denounced the operatives.

Akpata said he would convene an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss the issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.

He also pledged to lead a delegation to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the incident circumstances of this incident.

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

“Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.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, which implies that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies. The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to be desired.”