By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Special Investigation Panel (SPIDEL) probing the unauthorised invasion of the home of a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Peter-Odili has appealed to the the Federal Government to set up an investigative panel to unravel those who ordered the invasion of the family house of Her Lordship.
The Chairman of NBA panel, Barrister Monday Ubani also called for a stiffer punishment to be meted out to everyone involved in the “fake raid” to serve as a deterrent to those who may wish to embark on such missions in the future.
Ubani who spoke on Channels Television breakfast programme ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Monday on a topic:
Odili Siege & NBA Special Investigation, argued that it will not be a bad idea if President Muhammadu Buhari sets up a panel to unearthing why the “so-called rogue elements” invaded the home of Justice Odili.
According to him: “NBA is calling for an Independent Investigative Panel to be set up by the Federal Government to get to the root of the invasion of the house of Justice Mary Peter-Odili because if this case is swept under the carpet who knows the next victim of the criminal elements”.
Ubani whose panel was set up by the National President of NBA, Olumide Akpata to probe the invasion of the home of Justice Odili, revealed that the panel will work with relevant bodies to unmask the planners and executors of the plot to embarrass the highly respected Supreme Court Justice.
Said he: “SPIDEL will work with the National Assembly (NASS) to unravel who authorized the invasion of Justice Mary Peter-Odili. NBA President has stated it clearly that the least our Association is demanding is to told who authorized the raid in the house of Justice Odili by the so-called fake operatives”.
He insisted that it is not enough for the security agencies and individuals named to brand those caught in the act as fake operatives, pointing out that NBA will dig deeper and will interview everyone mentioned in the debacle no matter how highly placed in the society.
On what will the panel recommend as a deterrent to all those found culpable in the dusk raid, Ubani posited that the offenders will receive adequate punishment for their roles. He said it is the only way persons who may nurse the idea to embark on such missions in the future can be held accountable.
“When things like this happen, you don’t have to just condemn it and move on, there must be adequate punishment for such infractions. Judges (Justices) must be respected and protected. And if they misbehave, there are procedures to deal with them and not to embarrass them like we have seen in recent years”, NBA top official said.
Asked why the National Judicial Council (NJC), Supreme Court and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) have not come back the call for the probe of the illegal invasion of the home of a high-ranking Justice of the Supreme Court, Ubani said some have condemned it.
Said he: “I am satisfied with the condemnation of the invasion of Justice Odili’s house by the CJN and the Supreme Court. Supreme Court has spoken and CJN issued a statement but for NJC, I don’t know why, maybe it’s because they meet quarterly, maybe they are trying to form a quorum before reacting to the incident”.
Asked how long the panel will conclude its assignment, he said that it will finish the job within two or three weeks.
