News Editor
Armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have visited the residence of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili, Peoples Gazette learnt.
The operatives arrived at Mrs Odili’s Abuja residence on Friday evening with immediate efforts to break in, sources told The Gazette. The judge immediately and vehemently resisted the attempts to raid her residence by the operatives, saying she had no business with them.
“She told them to go and meet her husband because she does not have any matter pending before them,” our source said under anonymity because they did not get permission to comment on an ongoing operation. Armed police officers were also amongst over 50 operatives said to be part of the operation.
Peter Odili, the Supreme Court jurist’s husband and former Rivers governor, has been facing corruption charges raised by the EFCC. Earlier this week, a federal judge ordered the immediate return of his international passport, saying anti-graft prosecutors have failed to substantiate grounds for continuous seizure of the politician’s passport.
Officials could not immediately say whether or not the ongoing standoff at Mrs Odili’s residence was because of her husband’s case.
The development comes five years after operatives of the State Security Service broke into the residences of over a dozen federal judges, including three of the Supreme Court at the time. Some of the judges have since died, with their family members their health deteriorated following the raids.
It was not immediately established whether the raid on Justice Odili’s residence has anything to do with Friday’s judgement of the Portharcourt Division of the appeal court which gave victory to the PDP to go ahead with its national convention scheduled for 30 and 31 of October 2021.
The suspended chairman of the party, Uche Secondus had filed a suit challenging his removal from office but the appellant court dismissed the suit.
The Gazette has called and sent messages to the EFCC for comments.
(Gazette)