The House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary has condemned in totality the siege at Justice Mary Peter -Odili’s residence, describing it as a repudiation of judicial independence and an assault on the sanctity of the justice system.
The Committee has now called for an investigation into the incident to unravel the persons behind the act, which it said is capable of straining the existing relationship between the Judiciary and the Executive arms government.
A press statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke, maintained that the incident is a wake-up call for authorities to tighten administrative and supervisory control over the operations of law enforcement agencies in the country.
The committee decried that the judiciary was exposed to public ridicule due to the raid on the residence of a justice of the supreme court, allegedly following a warrant signed by a Magistrate.
The statement said it was disturbing that the said warrant was revoked by the issuing Magistrate who had discovered that it was procured by the Applicant on the premises of misrepresented facts, yet the actions were carried out.
”As a committee currently interfacing with the Judiciary for an improved judicial reform and justice system, we wish to lend our voice on the need to exercise more caution in issuing ex-parte, conflicting and questionable orders that are capable of bringing disrepute to our Justice system”.
The committee said it empathized with the Attorney General of the Federation, who is accountable for the actions and inactions of the law enforcement agents who executed the said warrant.
”The siege is reminiscent of the 2016 incident, where, in the beat of the night, security agencies invaded private residences of judicial officers, which subsequently turned out as an underserved phenomenon, and a dent on our professed independence of the judiciary, and demanding protection for our judges.
”As we already know, the judiciary harps on due process in the dispensation of justice and the House Committee on the Judiciary avows to collaborate with the judiciary and relevant stakeholders to secure the nation’s democracy.”
