Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has condemned the raid on the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili, a Justice of Nigeria’s Supreme Court, and wife of former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop actions capable of undermining the nation’s democracy.
According to the press statement signed yesterday by the national publicity secretary of the organisation, Ken Robinson stressed that the raid, in dusk hours of Friday, is not only crude and primitive but barbaric and dictatorial.
“It is another attempt by agents of the Buhari administration to further intimidate and humiliate the nation’s judiciary. This is one of such actions too many, against persons of Southern extraction, particularly, persons from the South-South geopolitical zone,” the statement reads.
According to the socio-cultural organisation, Justice Walter Onnoghen was later suspended, made to face a “kangaroo” trial over trumped-up charges, and was forced to retire.
The statement reads, “Earlier, in 2016, the Department of State Services “(DSS ) in a gestapo manner, raided the homes of John Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, who is now deceased, alongside the residences of Adeniyi Ademola, and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja.”
PANDEF called on all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to rise in unison and condemn the atrocious actions against citizens by the federal government and its agents. While calling on the International community, especially the United Kingdom and the United States, not to remain indifferent to the oppressive actions of the Nigerian government against its citizens.
“Nigeria is not an “Animal Kingdom” and we cannot afford to let it plummet to that state; the ramifications would be catastrophic for the entire world,” PANDEF stated.
While stressing that the government should offer a public apology to the nation’s judiciary, as well as, to the Honorable Justice of the Supreme Court, PANDEF maintained that it is significant to note that Justice Mary Odili is the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Niger Delta socio-cultural organisation therefore, implores President Muhamadu Buhari to stop actions that are capable of thwarting the nation’s democracy, for prosaic and political intentions.
“Those who ordered and carried out the scatological invasion of the home of Justice Mary Odili must be identified and punished appropriately. Enough of this nonsense,” PANDEF said.
