The search warrant was granted to one Lawrence Ajodo, identified as a chief superintendent of police and a member of the investigation team under the asset tax recovery panel of the ministry of justice.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the raid of the Abuja residence of the former Rivers Governor, Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court.
Security operatives had on Friday night invaded the house of the Supreme Court justice based on information that “illegal activities” were going on there.
Documents seen by journalists showed that the search warrant was obtained after one Aliyu Ibrahim, a whistleblower, deposed to an affidavit on October 13, stating that he “observed some illegal activities” within the area.
The search warrant was granted to one Lawrence Ajodo, identified as a chief superintendent of police and a member of the investigation team under the asset tax recovery panel of the ministry of justice.
The panel comprises the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The warrant, which was granted by Emmanuel Iyanna, a Chief Magistrate at Wuse Zone 6 magistrate court, did not bear the address or name of the judge.
While Odili’s address is 7, Imo river street, Maitama, the address on the warrant was 9, Imo Street, Maitama.
Reacting in a statement issued on Saturday, NBA President, Olumide Akpata demanded that those responsible for the act must be brought to book.
Akpata noted that the security team which carried out the raid was linked by some to the Minister of Justice’s office, but that the minister had denounced the operatives.
He said he would convene an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss the issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, last night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies.
"Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.
"The Honourable AGF under whose office the team that purportedly carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled has also reportedly denounced the team, which implies that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies. The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to be desired.”
He said when viewed in the context of a similar raid on the premises of Supreme Court Justices in 2016, the NBA interpreted last night's incident as part of an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate and ridicule the Judiciary.
The NBA, he vowed, "will no longer allow this to continue."
Akpata added, “In case the law enforcement agencies have not learnt their lessons, events like this do nothing but erode the independence of sacred democratic institutions like the Judiciary, undermine the rule of law in Nigeria and set the country back in the quest to instil confidence in citizens of Nigeria, Nigerian businesses, and foreign investors that Nigeria operates a democracy with an independent judiciary.
"I have spoken with My Lord, Peter-Odili JSC and I am happy to report that she is alive and well. Beyond that however, it is my pledge to Nigerians that the NBA will get to the root of this matter.
"In line with the aims and objectives of the NBA to protect and defend the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law, we will convene an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.
"I will also lead a delegation to the Honourable AGF Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the circumstances of this incident.
"The NBA will ensure that all those responsible for this unfortunate incident are brought to book. We must do all that is required to safeguard the independence of our Judiciary and indeed protect our hard-won democracy.”