Malami Misled Me Into Signing Warrant For Justice Mary Odili’s Residence Says Chief Magistrate
An Abuja magistrate court has revoked a warrant granted to search the residence of Mary Odili, a justice of the supreme court.
The chief magistrate revoked the search warrant on the grounds that the court was misled.
Security operatives who stormed the residence on Friday said they received information on “illegal activities” in the house.
The search warrant was obtained after one Aliyu Ibrahim, a whistleblower, deposed to an affidavit on October 13, stating that he “observed some illegal activities” within the area.
The search warrant was granted to one Lawrence Ajodo, identified as a chief superintendent of police and a member of the investigation team under the asset tax recovery panel of the ministry of justice.
The panel comprises the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the ministry of justice.
However, the warrant which was granted by Emmanuel Iyanna, a chief magistrate at Wuse zone 6 magistrate court, did not bear the address or name of the judge.
While Odili’s address is 7, Imo river street, Maitama, the address on the warrant is 9, Imo Street, Maitama.
The Chief magistrate consequently revoked the search warrant he approved against Justice Odili’s residence due to misrepresentation in the first information application supplied by an ad-hoc public asset recovery panel domiciled under the justice ministry and overseen by Malami.
“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,” the order reads.
Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer to Odili, had said the incident was either an honest mistake or it was politically motivated to embarrass her or intimidate Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers state who is the husband of the judge.
Meanwhile, the EFCC through its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, has said the commission did not carry out an operation in the home of the supreme court justice.
