IGP Says Police Have Arrested Operatives Who Allegedly Invaded Justice Mary Odili’s Home

Some operatives who laid siege to the Abuja residence of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili have been arrested, Inspector-General Alkali Usman announced yesterday in Lagos. The police boss neither gave the number of those arrested nor their organisations.

But he said the circumstances surrounding the incident were being investigated.

In his first comment on the incident, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Ibrahim Muhammad warned that the Judiciary under his watch would no longer tolerate any form of indignity from other arms of government.

Also yesterday, the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), cautioned that the siege to Supreme Court Justice‘s home must “not be politicised” as “it is a matter of huge political and constitutional importance.”

Justice Odili’s residence was on Friday night under a siege by armed security operatives who claimed their mission was to execute a Chief Magistrates’ Court search warrant.

Attorney-General of the Federation Abubarkar Malami (SAN), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) denied any involvement in the act, which drew widespread condemnation.

Following public outcry, Usman on Monday disclosed that an investigation into the incident had commenced. He assured Nigerians that the perpetrators would be fished out and brought to justice.

Yesterday, the IG gave an update on the matter during a two-day capacity-building workshop for security operatives in Lagos and Ogun states in Lagos.

He said: “I have taken my time not to speak quickly on this issue to ensure that when I speak, I am able to give Nigerians information on what transpired or what has been done.

“To the best of my knowledge, we have been able to arrest the perpetrators and we are investigating the circumstances surrounding the invasion or siege to the judge’s residence.”