Femi Falana a lawyer and activist, has requested the inspector general of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to investigate the unlawful invasion of the Abuja residence of the Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Peter-Odili three days ago.
He noted that the demonstrators were reported to be protesting the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in respect of the Bayelsa governorship pre-election case presided over by Justice Odili.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, February 20, 2020, titled, “Attack on Justice Odili”, Falana said the invasion of the demonstrators on her residence “infringed on her Ladyship’s fundamental right to privacy guaranteed by section 37 of the Constitution of Nigeria”.
“Never in the history of this country has a Justice of the Supreme Court been subjected to such embarrassment over his or her decision”, he stated.
He said since both All Progressive Congress, APC, and People’s Democratic Party, PDP, have accused each other of sponsoring the protest, the Inspector General of Police should conduct an investigation into the incident.
“Upon the conclusion of the investigation the report should be forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation with a view to charging the demonstrators with criminal trespass contrary to section 349 of the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory”, he advised.
Falana remarked that the unfortunate incident would not have reared its ugly head if the full weight of the law had been allowed to descend on the gang of miscreants who invaded the Ekiti State High Court and beat up a Judge on September 23, 2014, and the armed security operatives who invaded the Abuja Judicial division of the Federal High Court with arms on December 6 last year in a desperate bid to arrest Omoyele Sowore.
He said “since the right of Nigerian Judges to decide cases without fear or favor is an integral part of judicial independence guaranteed by section 36 (1) of the Constitution, the National Judicial Council, NJC, should take up the invasion of Justice Mary Peter-Odili’s official residence with President Buhari.
“On its part, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, should follow up the investigation and prosecution of the invaders”, he advised.
