….Promises Open and Thorough Investigation
The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN has categorically refuted the involvement of Federal Government of Nigeria in the recent invasion of the Abuja residence of Honourable Justice Mary Odili by security agents.
The HAGF made this known when the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) paid him a courtesy visit in his office today Tuesday 2nd November, 2021 to seek clarifications on the unfortunate development.
The HAGF maintained that “neither the Federal Government nor Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is officially involved in the invasion”. Hence, his office “has taken proactive steps to thoroughly investigate the incidence”.
The HAGF assured that the investigation will be open, sincere and thorough in terms of disclosure of the personalities and actors involved.
The HAGF said that he had already issued a Press Statement stating the position of the Federal Government on the matter. He disclosed that his office had asked the Inspector General of Police and copied other relevant security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter. He said that copies were also forwarded to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Justice Mary Odili to demonstrate his commitment to a transparent investigation.
To buttress his determination to a transparent investigation, the HAGF made available copies of the Press Statement and Memo to the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to the visiting Legal luminaries to enable them understand the efforts his office had made so far.
In his remarks, Chief Adegboyega. S. Awomolo SAN, who led the Senior Advocates, had earlier informed the HAGF that their visit was occasioned by the invasion of Justice Mary Odili’s residence by security agents on 29th October, 2021 to enable them get more clarification on the development and to urge the HAGF to ensure that the matter was not swept under the carpet.
He asserted that, as senior members of the bar, the body strongly believe that the development was a matter of national importance. He added that anything that threatened the life, career, security and independence of judicial officers was a threat to Constitutional Democracy.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs Olabisi Soyebo SAN not only thanked the HAGF for the steps taken so far, but also urged that the result of the investigation should come out in real time and those behind it should be named and shamed to serve as deterrent to others.
The Senior Assistant on media to the HAGF, Dr. Umar Gwandu while addressing journalists after the visit, gave further assurances that the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was working in synergy with all relevant agencies in a wider investigation to ensure that those who perpetrated the criminal act were brought to book.
Aderemi Adelabu
For: DD (Information)
2nd November, 2021
