Odili’s home invasion part of anti-Southern agenda, USNLG warns
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda against the South has again manifested in the invasion of the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili by security forces with a search warrant obtained fraudulently from an Abuja Magistrate’s Court.
This is the view of US Nigeria Law Group (USNLG) Managing Partner, Emmanuel Ogebe, who is based in Washington but often expresses concern over happenings in Nigeria, his home country.
He said he received with “utter consternation and devastation the news that the Buhari Banditocracy” invaded the home of Odili, the second senior most judicial official in Nigeria.
In the epic pantheon of judicial juggernauts, he noted, Odili “occupies the pride of place” as one of only eight Nigerian women ever to attain the status of justice of the Supreme Court namely:
- Aloma Mukhtar
- Olufunola Adekeye
- Mary Odili
- Clara Ogunbiyi
- Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
- Amina Augie
- Uwani Abba-Aji
- Helen Ogunwumiju
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“That a judicial jewel of the nation would have her residence invaded in such a cavalier, humiliating and barbaric manner must outrage the sensitivities of any sensible human on the planet,” Ogebe said in a statement.
“Odili is the first female justice from South East to attain this exalted position, the first being former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Alooma Mukhtar (North Central) and Adekeye (South West).
“Odili became the third female justice in the history of Nigeria and the first representing both the South East and South South by marriage.
“That the first female justice emerging from two-thirds of the South would be so disgracefully maltreated solidifies the justifiable belief by sections of this country of Buhari’s animus towards Nigerians of Igbo extraction.
Buhari fans sympathy for separatist agitation
“Buhari has once again heightened sympathy for the separatist movements.
“Worse still is that Odili is only the second female justice in the history of Nigeria to rise to number two in the Apex Court.
“That anyone could unleash such horror upon such a senior and historic figure beggars belief and starkly illustrates our further descent into Buharific Barbarism.
“The senseless and stupidity of the action is in itself stupefying. Whether the mission was to kidnap or assassinate her is anyone’s guess but if a former first lady, high court judge, justice of appeal can be exposed to this then who is safe in Nigeria?
Ogebe said it is unclear whether it was Hisbah religious police that raided Odili’s home because videos show men in Babanriga in her premises. “Photos show an ID” purportedly signed by federal Attorney General Abubakar Malami which could make this just the latest “malamic malady.”
Malami does not own or operate a private army, militia or police under the constitution, he reiterated.
“Sadly as the Chief Justice of Buhari (CJB) continues doddering and blubbering, we should not be surprised that desperadoes are out to discredit and denigrate any able and efficient heirs apparent.
“This latest episode of executive brigandage and banditry is not new at all.
“Buhari framed and ousted the first Southern Christian CJN just as he has now attempted with the first potential female Southern female Christian CJN using an abuse of legal processes.
Buhari’s place in history
“Similarly they raided the other arm of government too holding National Assembly (NASS) members hostage as well in the infamous 2018 Daura DSS invasion as they have now done to the judiciary.
“Similarly they raided the homes of justices of various tiers at midnight in 2016 from which they failed to secure prosecutions for most or convictions for any. Indeed, the courts have ruled that this is an improper procedure for judicial discipline.
“This is why I submitted in my petition to the NJC in 2019 that Buhari has solidified his ignominious place in history as the worst enemy of the judiciary ever in Nigeria.
“I pity the Nigerian people who are doubly jeopardised by non-state terrorists and state terrorism simultaneously.
“At the same time Boko Haram is executing soldiers, mystery police squads are executing dubious warrants on judges. The difference between the state terrorists and non-state terrorism is becoming less distinguishable.
Ogebe commended House of Representative member Betty Apiafi (Rivers) “who rushed to the defence of good justice” as her colleague, Boma Goodhead, did in the inglorious invasion of NASS.
“These Rivers women Reps have shown uncommon courage in confronting cowardly men.
“Indeed, one recalls the valiant intervention of Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike in fending off a similar assault on justices in Rivers State by the DSS.
“In this light, the annals of legal history in Nigeria will remember kindly the role of Riverians in standing up against the wicked and lawless regime of Buhari.
“His regime which has ousted top Southerners, Walter Onnoghen CJN physically, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo technically, has now attempted another top Christian Southerner in the federal government while we have major insecurity issues plaguing the country.
“Buhari’s only achievement since he was last kicked out of power for his wickedness by his fellow Northern colleagues in the 1985 is that he has perpetrated a similar anti-democratic coup using stolen robes of a democrat.
“He will go into the garbage bin of history as the only Nigerian ruler who gave Nigerian citizens great joy two times by leaving office.”
