Police ‘Incapable’ Of Investigating Invaders Of Justice Odili’s Residence, SERAP Tells UN

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Mr. Diego García-Sayán, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, to put pressure on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to conduct an impartial investigation into “the vicious assault on Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili by rogue officials.”

SERAP, through a petition, signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed doubts on the ability of the Nigeria Police Force to do a thorough job on the development.

Recall that the Senate had directed police authorities to swing into action and unravel the circumstances and the persons involved in the October 29 raid on Justice Odili’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Not too long after the directive was issued, the Police paraded about 14 persons alleged to have been involved in the invasion.

The alleged mastermind who procured the search warrant for the raid on Odili’s house, Lawrence Ajodo, claimed he was a consultant to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Abubakar Malami SAN.

The claim was immediately debunked by Malami in a statement issued by Dr. Umar Gwandu, his media aide.

Meanwhile, SERAP has called on the UN to investigate the matter, claiming the police, which is an integral part of the federal government, may not be transparent with its ongoing probe.

SERAP wrote: The unconscionable attacks against Nigerian judges would seem to be a deliberate attempt by the authorities to exert pressure on the judiciary and undermine its independence and authority. These attacks are putting Nigerians’ freedoms at risk.

“The current investigation by the Nigerian police fails to meet international standards, as it is neither independent nor effective. As such, the investigation is incapable of identifying all the suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and credibly delivering justice in the matter.

“We urge you to push for the adoption of a resolution by the Human Rights Council to establish an international, independent, and impartial investigative mechanism into the attack on Justice Odili, and other unresolved cases of intimidation and harassment of the judiciary, and assault on the rule of law in Nigeria since May 29 2015.”

SERAP further urged the federal government to note that investigation into the assault must be based on human rights principles, adding that the development should be protected from undue influence.

” The outcome of the investigation must be made public, and the suspected perpetrators and their sponsors brought to justice,” SERAP stated.