Friday 29th of October was just a normal day for Nigerians who are expectant and looking forward to a weekend after a hectic week long activities. Abuja the federal capital city, a home to many including civil servants is not an exception.

Mary Odili, a civil servant and supreme court justice, second in line to the chief justice of the federation, Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad did not have any premonition of what to expect on that fateful Friday night. She must have had a busy day, probably attending to tons of files, adjudicating on cases brought before her or attending workshops.

Mary Odili is not only a supreme court judge but the wife of a politician and former governor of Rivers state, Peter Odili. She would have been longing for a rest-free weekend, little did she know that a drama would be playing out at her official residence later in the night. Her peaceful environment on Imo street in Maitama district was shattered when security operatives made up of soldiers and police officers stormed her home in the wee hours of the night.

Armed with a search warrant granted to one Lawrence Ajodo, a chief superintendent of police, who claimed to be attached to Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation AGF’s office, he demanded to search her residence. He claimed he wanted to search the residence based on the allegation that illegal activities were going on there. Unable to gain access, the security operatives laid a siege on the premises and she was held hostage till day break.

This action was condemned by Nigerians most especially from Nigeria Bar Association NBA and the Concerned Senior Advocates of Nigeria, South-East chapter. In a statement released, CSAN condemned the raid on Justice Odili’s residence by security operatives, describing it as another frontal attack on the independence and integrity of the Judiciary. The SANs said the consistent and systematic attacks on the Judiciary by the executive arm of government is clearly in breach of the constitutional protection of judges and the judiciary. They alleged that such attacks are aimed at emasculating the Judiciary.

The apex court also described the incident as an “unwarranted and despicable” exercise carried out in a “Gestapo manner.”

The condemnation spurred the Nigerian police into action and in a few days, 14 persons were paraded in connection with the invasion. Frank Mba, force public relations officer, said the suspects included a fake chief superintendent of police (CSP), a journalist, and an Islamic scholar.

Mba said 10 other suspects, including two military personnel, are currently at large. But a twist to the story is that CSP Lawrence Ajodo is now said to be an impostor despite the fact that the ID card on him shows that Ajodo is attached to the AGF’s office.

Umar Gwandu, spokesman to the AGF, Malami denied knowing Ajodo said the said confession is “an orchestrated attempt to stir unnecessary controversies and public apprehension”.

“With all the competent, high level professionals and capable human resources available at the disposal of the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, it only takes the imagination of the evil minds to assume or think that the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice will descend so low to engaging a quack or fake police officer to serve as his consultant,” the statement reads.

“This is a case of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner. We are happy to note that investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances and personalities behind the invasion and sponsored campaign of calumny against the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.”

While challenging the suspect to present evidence, Malami said the investigation will reveal “those dragging his personality, his name and his exalted office in the dirty politics of disrepute”. More revelations show that the court warrant was forged and it bore a wrong address.

Other security agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS) also denied their involvement in the invasion. Meanwhile, the EFCC is part of the Odili investigation which is being handled by the Joint Panel on Recovery in the Federal Ministry of Justice under the leadership of Abubakar Malami, the AGN. The panel comprises the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force and the ministry of Justice. The probe is targeted at her husband, Peter Odili.

This is not the first time Nigerians shall witness this type of frontal attack and the invasion of judicial officers. In 2016, the homes of her colleagues, late Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice John Okoro and others were invaded under the pretext of fighting corruption. Doors were broken, walls were pulled down in the middle of the night and the government swore to high heavens of its conviction of the guilt of the judicial officers, but as at today, no charges were preferred and no conviction was secured.

The question is: who ordered the attack and what was the rationale behind the attack? Does it have a political undertone or was it connected to the corruption charge against her husband?

Recall that the former chief justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen was removed in a controversial manner based on corruption related charges shortly before the 2019 presidential election.

Her husband, Pete Odili was dragged to court by EFCC but was able to secure a restraining order from the court against EFCC in 2007 from further action in relation to the allegation of misappropriation of public funds to a tune of N100b when he was the governor of Rivers state between 1999 to 2007.

Another jigsaw puzzle is that Odili is next in line to the current Nigeria’s chief justice and she stands to benefit from his removal should that happen before her retirement on May 12, 2022.

The ding dong affair continues as Nigerians wait with bated breath to unravel the mystery behind the attack.

https://olumuyiwa.com.ng/2021/11/15/twist-turns-over-the-invasion-of-justice-mary-odilis-house/

I don't know why people are getting worried did she think she was in another country. Look when you kick someone all the body knows not just the legs.

It was a failed kidnap/assassination attempt

okoo

It is summersaults and tumbles!
Because the invasion is pointing in one direction only