Razaq Bamidele
An all women non-governmental organization (NGO), Standup for Women Society (SWS), has condemned the invasion of the residence of Justice Mary Odili, a Supreme Court Judge based in Abuja who is also spouse of former Rivers State Governor Sir Peter Odili, describing the assault as unacceptable, unnecessary and embarrassing. .
The NGO’s National President, Barrister Deborah Abosede Ijadele-Adetona, Esq, in a statement in Lagos Tuesday noted that the invasion by the security agencies and the anti-graft agency in whatever guise was totally uncivilised and as such should not repeat itself in whatever guise, insisting that, any form of assault on the Judiciary would be counter- productive to the democratic experiment in the country.
Ijadele-Adetona declared that this continuous onslaught by Federal Government on Judges and by extension her constituency and on a female Judge was the height of impunity and demanded an unreserved written apology to Justice Mary Odili, lamenting that, till now, “no one seems to be claiming responsibility and no one seems to be offering further explanations on who is/was responsible for such dastardly act of rascality and impunity.”
The statement further that, “it is even more abhorrent that the rationale for the present raid on Hon Justice Mary Peter Odili’s residence has not been explained or justified, insisting that, the incident could therefore only be interpreted as an attack for her being a *WOMAN* , to be intimidated and ridiculed!
The SWS President told the Media in the release that, the charade left bitter bile in the mouths of SWS members across the country, expressing disgust that, “from the revoked warrant of search to a wrong address, that read no. 7 Imo River Street, Maitama but they went to no. 9 Imo River Street, Maitama, Justice Odili residence!
While declaring that, an injury to one Woman is an injury to all Women, the NGO therefore joined in the calls by Rivers State Governor, Barr Nyesom Wike, and Barr Mike Ozekhome, in demanding justice for Justice Mary Odili.
“We want to believe that it was a mistake as the state players claimed, but let it be on record that SWS will not fold it’s arms to watch any form of attempt to end Justice Odili’s career the same way the state players did with Onnoghen and others. We will arise and move,” the organization warned,noting that, though the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubar Malami had denied involvement in the siege on Justice Odili’s residence, we are not fooled.”
The SWS wondered that, “it is now more than 48 hours after the said raid and information is still scanty as per the rationale for the raid on the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria!”
The statement was co-signed by its National Publicity Secretary Bilkisu Ado Zango and made available to the media in Lagos.
