Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has condemned the raid on the residence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Mary Odili.
A press statement issued by the media office of the former Vice President quoted Atiku Abubakar as saying that a continuation of the notorious behaviour of security operatives conducting a raid on residences of senior judicial officers negates the ideals of a democratic society and an affront to the independence of the judiciary.
“It is with utmost disgust that we continue to witness situations whereby law enforcement agencies conduct raids on residences of senior judges in the country. Irrespective of the investigations that they pursue, such practices give expression of professional misconduct and put our country in very poor images.
“It needs not be reiterated that this is a democratic republic and every organ of the state bureaucracy, especially the security agencies, must conduct themselves in responsibility to the people of Nigeria,” Atiku said.
The statement further calls for a discontinuation of such misconduct and asks for an apology to the victim of the current circumstance in the person of Justice Mary Odili, a probe of the circumstances that led to the raid and sanction of those involved in this disgraceful act.
Also the Nigerian Bar Association described Friday night’s raid on the home of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili as an attempt to “intimidate and ridicule the judiciary,” which the association said it will no longer tolerate.
In a statement issued by the NBA president, Olumide Akpata, the association said it “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.”
