The statement noted that Justice Odili is neither a judicial consultant to Tinubu nor anyone nor is she involved in any of the presidential election petitions.
By Jeffrey Agbo
A former Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Peter-Odili, has debunked an allegation that she is making moves to sway judges on the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) to rule in favour of President Bola Tinubu.
An online publisher, Jackson Ude, made the allegation against her, alleging “she meets regularly with Appeal and Supreme Courts” in that regard.
Justice Peter-Odili is the wife of former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili.
In the statement on Wednesday by her media assistant, Felix Enebeli, the retired Supreme Court Justice said she had also referred the matter to her lawyers as well as the police and other security agencies for appropriate action.
The statement noted that Justice Odili is neither a judicial consultant to Tinubu nor anyone nor is she in any way connected with or involved in any of the presidential election petitions or any other election petition whatsoever.
She described the allegations as false, malicious, mischievous and a deliberate attempt at smearing her integrity and solid reputation.
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The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication circulating in the social media against the person of the retired Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, wherein the author, one Jackson Ude, falsely and maliciously alleged inter alia, that the revered jurist is ‘currently negotiating a pathway for Bola Tinubu’ and that ‘she meets regularly with Appeal and Supreme courts’ in that regard.
“While the defamation arising from the false allegation has been referred to the lawyers of her lordship to deal with in accordance with the law, we consider it appropriate, particularly for the sake of the public, to issue this unequivocal denial of the false allegation.
“We deny every allegation contained in the publication and state that it is false, malicious, mischievous and a deliberate attempt at smearing the integrity and solid reputation of her lordship.
“We say nothing of the fact that the publication has the potential of inciting the public against her lordship on an issue of grave national importance.
“The public is hereby urged to disbelieve, disregard and ignore this false publication.”
Enebeli said lawyers acting for Justice Peter-Odili have been instructed to demand a retraction and a public apology from Ude, and that failure to do so would result in a lawsuit.
“Meanwhile, a criminal complaint has been lodged with the police.
“In addition, lawyers acting for Justice Mary Peter-Odili have addressed petitions to the State Security Service, the Nigeria Police and Interpol calling for an immediate investigation of this grave but false and malicious allegation aimed at inciting the public against Justice Peter-Odili (rtd),” the statement added.