Controversy Deepens Over Invasion Of Justice Odili’s Home

Controversy was at the weekend dogging the circumstances that led to the search of the home of Justice Mary Odili. The controversy came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC denied a role in the search that was allegedly prompted by a search warrant issued by an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court.

Remarkably, the search warrant was given after a compliant of illegal activities going on in her home was lodged. However, Justice Mary Odili who is married to former Governor Peter Odili refused the police team to enter her home at No. 9 Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The standoff also Governor Nyesom Wike and some other leading South-South personalities visiting the home.

Remarkably, in the midst of the standoff, the Chief Magistrate who initially issued the order late on Friday night revoked the search warrant saying he had been misled.

It was gathered that the Joint Panel Recovery unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice obtained the warrant to search the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili.

The panel, which comprises the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the Ministry of Justice.

The warrant was obtained after a whistle blower, Aliyu Umar, claimed in an affidavit dated October 13, 2021 that he had observed illegal activities going on at No. 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The affidavit was followed by another one by a CSP of police, Lawrence Ajodo in which he used to obtain the search warrant from the court of Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna.

Justice Mary Odili, however, insisted that the house belong to her and not to her husband.

EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, however, in a statement, declared that the commission had no hand in the operation.

He said:

“The attention the EFCC has been drawn to claims in a section of the media that operatives of the commission today, October 29, 2021 stormed the Maitama, Abuja home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, purportedly to execute a search.

“The commission, by this statement, wishes to inform the public that the report is false as it did not carry out any operation at the home of Justice Odili. If there was any such operation as claimed by the media, it was not carried out by the EFCC. The commission enjoins the public to discountenance the report.”

In the midst of the standoff, Chief Magistrate Iyanna revoked the search warrant as he accused the government of misleading his court.

In his second order late on Friday night, he said:

The order read, “Upon misrepresentation to this honourable court that led to the issuance of a search warrant in favour of Joint Panel Recovery, Ministry of Justice, against House 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, dated October 29, 2021. In view of the above fact, the said search warrant is hereby revoked.”

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