The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, should make public the report of the panel set up by the police hierarchy to investigate the raid on the residence of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court by security operatives, a civil rights movement, Anti-Corruption Network said on Thursday.
The organisation said if the report was not made public, it “will not stand by and watch but will be very alert in readiness, within the ambit of the laws and opportunities granted under democracy to do everything necessary including but not limited to taking legal actions to ensure that the investigation report of the raid is made public.”
The Executive Secretary of ACN and former Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Dino Melaye, stated this during a press conference in Abuja.
He expressed surprise that the home of such a highly revered judicial officer could be raided in such a manner by security agents.
Melaye said, “Justice Mary Odili is the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria. The invasion of her residence is nothing but a mockery of our democracy and a foul miasma on the image of Nigeria. The invasion of her home is an assault on the judiciary, democracy and rule of law.
“The Anti-Corruption Network sees this invasion as the height of corruption and executive recklessness targeted at intimidating the judiciary. The raid is highly condemnable and should not be glossed over by any responsible government.
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“Therefore, we urge the Federal Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the sad incident and take needed actions against those found culpable.
The ACN also commends the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba for making arrest and constituting a panel to investigate the raid on her residence.
“We use this medium to urge the Inspector- General of Police, Usman Baba to make public the report of its investigation into the matter to ensure transparency.
Let it also be known that if the report of the investigation is not made public, the Anti-Corruption Network will not stand by and watch, but will be very alert in readiness, within the ambit of the laws and opportunities granted under democracy to do everything necessary including but not limited to taking legal actions to ensure that the investigation report of the raid is made public.
“We, therefore, implore the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to do the needful in their investigation. In an unjust society, silence is s crime.”
A search warrant was issued by a Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna of Wuse Zone 6 magisterial division brought by officials who claimed to come from the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Iyanna signed the search warrant based on an affidavit by a whistleblower named Aliyu Umar who claimed that there were illegal activities going on at No. 9 Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Based on the search warrant, a team called Joint Panel Recovery under the Ministry of Justice moved to Justice Odili’s residence but they were reportedly resisted.
Later on, the Magistrate revoked the order, saying he was misled.
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