By Babs Oyetoro and Seyi Odewale
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Diego García-Sayán, to mount pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to conduct an impartial investigation into “the vicious assault on the Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili by rogue officials.”
SERAP, through a petition, by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed doubts on the ability of the Nigeria Police Force to do a thorough job on the development.
Recall that the Senate had directed police authorities to swing into action and unravel the circumstances and the persons involved in the October 29 raid on Justice Odili’s residence in Maitama, Abuja. Not too long after the directive was issued, the Police paraded about 14 persons alleged to have been involved in the invasion.
The alleged mastermind, who procured the search warrant for the raid on Odili’s house, Lawrence Ajodo, claimed he was a consultant to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN. The claim was immediately debunked by Malami in a statement issued by Dr Umar Gwandu, his media aide.
Meanwhile, SERAP has called on the UN to investigate the matter, claiming the police, which is an integral part of the federal government, may not be transparent with its ongoing probe.
SERAP wrote: The unconscionable attacks against Nigerian judges would seem to be a deliberate attempt by the authorities to exert pressure on the judiciary and undermine its independence and authority. These attacks are putting Nigerians’ freedoms at risk.
“The current investigation by the Nigerian police fails to meet international standards, as it is neither independent nor effective. As such, the investigation is incapable of identifying all the suspected perpetrators and their sponsors and credibly delivering justice in the matter.
“We urge you to push for the adoption of a resolution by the Human Rights Council to establish an international, independent, and impartial investigative mechanism into the attack on Justice Odili, and other unresolved cases of intimidation and harassment of the judiciary, and assault on the rule of law in Nigeria since May 29, 2015.”
SERAP further urged the federal government to note that investigation into the assault must be based on human rights principles, adding that the development should be protected from undue influence. “The outcome of the investigation must be made public, and the suspected perpetrators and their sponsors brought to justice,” SERAP stated.
Ohanaeze’s warning
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo (Worldwide) Council of Elders has warned that it would no longer take it kindly with any unfair and unjust treatment of its sons and daughters.
Its Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in a statement, said the council had vowed to rise against such tendency, specifically referring to what it called the despicable recent invasion of Justice Mary Peter Odili’s residence in Abuja by security agents.
“The recent invasion of the home and harassment of one of our illustrious daughters, Princess Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court in Abuja by alleged security agents is despicable,” the council said.
It also sought a full investigation to ensure that those found culpable are brought to book, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The elders warned: “Any daughter of Igboland from the date of birth till death, is a bona fide member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo (Worldwide), no matter where they are married. They are full members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, while their husbands and children are honorary members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Princess Justice Mary Odili (nee Nzenwa) is the daughter of the first Chairman of defunct Nigeria Airways, His Royal Highness, Eze B. S. C. Nzenwa. Her late father was a renowned lawyer and politician before his community called on him to ascend the throne of their ancestors.”
Unknown people raided the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili on October 29, in circumstances that are yet to be cleared by the authorities.
Malami reiterates non-involvement in the raid
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has again, denied any involvement in the controversial siege on the home of Justice Odili.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, the minister reiterated that he never gave any order for the siege to be carried out. He also made further clarifications about the suspect, Lawrence Ajodo, who said he had worked previously with the AGF.
“I have never given him a single case and if I have given him 29 cases, let him show the evidence of the engagement,” Malami said, adding: “I have never seen this man on earth, God knows and I believe there are certain (not only) criminal undertones, perhaps maybe some other undertones, by people who think that by hook or by crook the AG must be a target of aggression one way or the other”.
According to Malami, the suspect is not under the pay record of the ministry and even if he was, he would not carry out operations that are outside the scope of the ministry.
“Government business is regulated through due processes and procedures. So, you cannot be seen to be operating as a department under the office of the Attorney General and then operating outside the scope and regulations of the law.
“So, you can see clearly, the man said he was not asked by the Attorney General to carry out that task. Ask him, which of the Attorneys-General and on account of which formal engagement?
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“There are 36 Attorneys General across the nation inclusive of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. So, if he said he has been sent by the Attorney General, the next point is to ask him, who is the Attorney General?” he queried.
