Odili: ‘This Invasion Is One Too Many!’ – Maikyau Slams Security Agencies Over Unfortunate Incident
Following the raid over the weekend of the home of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (JSC), foremost Lawyer and Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Welfare Committee, Yakubu Maikyau S.A.N. has thrown his weight behind the position of the NBA leadership, regarding the unfortunate incident.
In a statement made available to The Metro Lawyer (TML), the senior Lawyer said “The past few days’ events starting with the invasion of the home of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (JSC) by men of our Security Agencies is rather disturbing.
“More irking is the blame trading that followed this rather unfortunate incident.”
Stating that this invasion is one too many, he went further to add that it smacks of a deliberate attempt by Government to harass and intimidate its third arm (the Judiciary).
The full text of the statement is captured below…
Statement by Y.C. Maikyau, SAN, Chairman, Welfare Committee of the NBA on the recent invasion of the Residence of His Lordship, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (JSC) by Security Agencies.
The past few days’ events starting with the invasion of the home of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili (JSC) by men of our Security Agencies is rather disturbing.
More irking is the blame trading that followed this rather unfortunate incident.
This invasion is one too many! It smacks of a deliberate attempt by Government to harrass and intimidate its third arm (the Judiciary). Apart from the gross violation of His Lordship’s fundamental Right to private and family life guaranteed by our Constitution, the invasion is indisputably a rude disrespect to her judicial office.
The NBA under the able leadership of Mr. Olumide Akpata has already taken a decisive stand against this misadventure by Government and its Security Agencies and I queue squarely behind the said position.
Let it be known that an independent Judiciary is not just a desirable component of a modern society, especially a democratic one, it is a necessity! And those that will attempt to harass the judiciary must be identified and made to face the dire consequences.
I also join the call for the identification and sanction of any member(s) of our Association that is found complicit in this travesty.
The Nigerian Judiciary will not be cowed by any person(s) – no matter how highly placed.
Long may Justice reign in our Nation.
God bless the Lordships of the Nigerian judiciary!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Y.C. Maikyau, SAN
Chairman, NBA Welfare Committee
This action by Nigerian security agencies has sparked an outrage from many quarters within and outside the country, with many asking for the resignation of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN; sanctions to be meted on the lawyers and judges involved in the order; and an apology from President Buhari to the family of His Lordship, Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili.
