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  • Crime
  • Updated: December 15, 2021

15 Suspected Invaders Of Justice Odili’s Residence Arraigned Before Federal Court

15 Suspected Invaders Of Justice Odili’s Residence Arraign

The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Wednesday, produced 15 suspected invaders of the home of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, for arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The suspects were led into Court 11 by the operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Force Headquarters at about 1:40 pm where they will be arraigned before Justice Nkeonye Maha.

The Police High Command had, on November 11, paraded 15 suspects over the invasion of the Abuja residence of a Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, describing them as impostors unknown to any of the nation’s security forces.

Parading the suspects at the Force Headquarters Annex, Abuja, Force spokesman, Frank Mba, said that the 14 suspects include a fake Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Lawrence Jojo.

He said the suspects, and seven others at large, conspired to raid the residence following information that the Supreme Court justice was keeping a large sum of money in foreign currencies.

According to Mba, the seven suspects still at large include two soldiers.

He said the suspects involved in the criminal acts include journalists, bankers, lawyers and law enforcement officers.

Justice Odili’s residence at 7, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, was, on October 29, allegedly invaded by armed security operatives on  grounds of an alleged tip-off by a whistleblower, one Aliyu Umar, who claimed to have observed suspicious activities at the residence

Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna was said to have approved a search warrant by a body identified as the Joint Panel Recovery Unit in the Ministry of Justice, leading to the invasion of Odili’s home.

The magistrate later revoked the order, saying he was misled while the police and other security agencies also said they were not aware of the raid.

However, the police commended the resistance put up by the security personnel attached to Odili’s residence for not allowing the suspects access to the building, saying that it could have been the greatest embarrassment to the nation if the operation had succeeded.

The siege had drawn condemnation from many Nigerians and several interest groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Supreme Court, National Assembly, several state governors, civil society organisations, among others.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had separately denied authorising the raid or knowledge of it.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS),  which were both linked to the invasion, had denied any involvement.

As at the time of filing the report, the court was yet to begin sitting.

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