By Rita Esegine
A group under the aegis of Niger Delta agitators have urged the federal government to investigate the recent siege to Justice Mary Peter-Odili’s house and not to sweep it under the carpet.
They also rejected the claims that there were some incriminating items and illegal activities going on in Odili’s Abuja house that could warrant the invasion.
A statement signed by the covener of a coalition of Niger Delta Militants, John Dukku on Sunday and made available to journalists in Abuja stated that the action was as a ploy to intimidate, harass, humiliate and forcefully evict Odili from her current position in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
At the moment, Odili is the second ranking justice of the supreme court after the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Tanko Mohammed.
The coalition of Niger Delta agitators posited that Odili’s offence was that she hails from the coastal region.
“The Coalition condemn in its entirety the recent invasion of Honourable Justice Mary Odili’s home in Abuja by agents the federal government of Nigeria. We view this action as a ploy to intimidate, harass, humiliate and forcefully evict her from her current position in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“We can authoritatively say that the only offense of Honourable Justice Mary Odili is because she is the second highest ranking Judge in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and she is from the Niger Delta region. The Coalition rejects the claim by the government that suspicious activities were suspected in the building, this claim is baseless and unacceptable.
“We are compelled to ask, what kind of illegal activity could be suspected in a home of respected Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria whose husband has also served as a State Governor for eight years? What was the motive behind that invasion?
“We therefore warn that on no account should the recent invasion of Honourable Justice Mary Odili’s home be swept under carpet as we are watching every event. Who ordered the invasion? What was his motive(s)? Why is such illegal invasion important now?”
The agitators recalled that many top judicial officers had been either harrased or intimidated by the agents of the states in the time past.
“In 2016, some targeted Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, John Okoro, Adeniyi Ademola, Nnamdi Dimgba and Mohammed Liman were among those Judiciary hierarchy persecuted without having tangible corruption evidence against them.
“We also recall the gang-up, abuse of power, intimidation, insults, embarrassments and trump-up charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal against our father – Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen”, the statement added.
