A renowned legal practitioner in Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has chided the Nigerian government over the raid on the residence of a female Supreme Court of Nigeria Judge, Justice Mary Odili, by security operatives. Ozekhome asserted that the raid on Justice Odili’s residence was politically motivated to embarrass the family.
Ozekhome picked holes in the search warrant upon which the security operatives carried out the raid on Justice Odili’s residence in Abuja. He emphasized that there were several inconsistencies in the search warrant that could question the genuine intention of the Nigerian government.
According to Ozekhome: “The search warrant did not carry any name, of any person. It didn’t say Justice Mary Peter Odili. It didn’t say the husband, Dr. Peter Odili. It just said, Number 9, Imo Street.
“Meanwhile, the very address of Justice Odili is not number 9, Imo Street. “Who were the persons, they did not put a single name. What address? You got the wrong address.”
Ozekhome noted that it could a case of mistaken identity, which he doubted. He emphasized that if it was a case of mistaken identity, the government would have apologise. Thus, he argued that it could be a plot to embarrass the Odili family. This, he said, is most likely to be the genuine intention of the Nigerian government.
Ozekhome, therefore, highlighted: “So, there is this theory that it could have been a clear case of genuine mistaken identity. I only hope so.
“But the other theory, which I seem to want to believe more, because of the activities and antecedents of this government, is that it was politically motivated.
“So, I believe it was done to embarrass them. But for whatever it was done, it was a shame to this country.
“If they now find that it was an erroneous entry or that it was mistake, let them do Nigerians and Nigeria the minimal of saying ‘we are sorry, we made an honest mistake’. And heavens will not fall; and they will be applauded for it.
“But let them not always pretend that all is well, even after causing great embarrassment.”
The Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, had in a statement on Saturday denied the involvement of the Attorney general pf the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in the raid of the residence of Justice Odili.
Dr. Gwandu also said that the Ministry has ordered an investigation into the incident.