The reported invasion of Justice Mary Odili’s residence by a Joint Panel Recovery team of the Federal Government on Friday, which included the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian Police, and the Federal Ministry of Justice, has drawn widespread condemnation.
The panel had broken into the Abuja home of a high-ranking Supreme Court Justice, claiming to have a warrant from Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna to search Dr Peter Odili’s home.
Dr. Peter Odili, who served as Governor of Rivers State from 1999 to 2007, is Justice Mary’s husband.
Dr. Odili is a medical doctor who served as the deputy governor of Rivers State from 1992 to 1993.
Dr. Odili obtained a perpetual injunction against the EFCC from a Federal High Court on March 5, 2008.
The injunction specifically prevents the anti-graft agency from probing Dr. Odili on the operations of the Rivers state government between 1999 and 2007, when he was governor.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja recently granted an order of perpetual injunction against Immigration, prohibiting the agency and its agents from harassing, intimidating, or infringing on Odili’s fundamental right to freedom of movement within and beyond Nigeria.
Dr. Odili filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit on August 25, challenging the seizure of his international travel documents by Immigration officials. Justice Ekwo issued the order in a judgment.
Among other things, the court ordered the Nigerian Immigration Services to promptly release the former governor’s foreign passport to him.
Without a proper court order, Justice Ekwo ruled that it was illegal for Immigration to claim that the EFCC had directed it to seize Dr Odili’s international passport.
“The Commission by this statement wishes to inform the public that the report is false as it did not carry out any operation at the home of Justice Odili.
“If there was any such operation as claimed by the media, it was not carried out by the EFCC. The Commission enjoins the public to discountenance the report” Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity stated.
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the action of the Federal Government.
Aggregate views of some Nigerians were that it was wrongful of the Federal Government agency under whatever guise to invade the home of the Odilis.
Reacting, Prince Emeka said those that invaded the house of Justice Mary Odili erred on the side of the law in view of the order of perpetual injunction granted to Dr Odili.
Another respondent who simply identified himself as Ojo said he learnt that the order of perpetual injunction made by a judge of the Federal High Court has not been vacated nor appealed.
A businessman, Odakoro Ovie wondered why a Chief Magistrate would endorse such search warrant in view of the order of perpetual injunction in favour of Dr Odili. Could it be that the Magistrate did not take judicial notice of the order of perpetual injunction or what, he queried.
He posited that the FG does not observe rule of law, and wondered why the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, should be part of the “unlawful action”.
Abubakar Malami, is the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria, so, he should have known better other than taking steps to ridicule the Federal Government.
In his own opinion, Nnamdi Olisa lambasted the FG for the action, insisting that there was more to it than meets the eyes.
Olisa was of the view that “maybe they are trying to indirectly harrass Justice Odili for reasons best known to them.
Mr James Anayo, stated that rather than appeal the order of perpetual injunction, the FG is further telling the world that it is no respecter of citizen’s fundamental rights and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, barely 24 hours, after the invasion of the Maitama residence of the Odilis, the Magistrate who endorsed the search warrant has revoked it.
The Magistrate claimed the government misled the court into endorsing the search warrant.
As at the time of filing this report, the Supreme Court is yet to speak on the issue, since Justice Mary had insisted the house belongs to her.
