By Bukola Kayode
The Rivers State National Assembly Caucus has joined the list of groups condemning the protest at the home of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili.
The Caucus in a statement signed by its leaders, Sen. George Sekibo and Rep. Kingsley Chinda, said their entire Caucus strongly condemned the protest, describing the protesters as thugs sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The brazen protest at the home which the Supreme Court justice shares with husband, former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, followed the judgment which sacked David Lyon as governor-elect of Bayelsa State.
A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Odili, had on February 13, nullified the election of Mr. Lyon on the grounds that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The statement read in part: “The Rivers State National Assembly Caucus condemns in very unequivocal terms the daring attack on the Abuja residence of Dr Peter Odili and his wife Justice Mary Odili by
sponsored thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the judgment of
Supreme Court in the Bayelsa governorship appeal.
“The Caucus further condemns the silence of the Federal Government and security
agencies over an audacious act of primitivism and grave threat whereby placard-carrying
thugs invaded the privacy of the Odilis and erected barricades against their residence for
no other reason than that Justice Mary Odili participated in the Bayelsa governorship
appeal as one among a five-man panel which heard the appeal and reached a unanimous
decision that grates with the APC”.
“This latest wanton shamelessness constitutes a new dimension in the continuing assault
against the judiciary and, once again, underlines Nigeria’s inexorable degeneration and
descent into rapid lawlessness.
“We recall that in 2015 Rivers State was the victim of unfavorable judicial decisions where,
in literally one fell swoop, 15 out its 16 members of the National Assembly were sacked.
Painful as the decisions were, there was no recourse to self-help or threat of violence
against any of the Justices who sat on the appeals.
“We would like to point out that Justice Mary Odili who has been inexplicably and unfairly
targeted since the Bayelsa governorship decision, was a member of other panels of the
Supreme Court which gave judgment in favor of at least three APC governors who are in
office today” the statement further read.
Recall that Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike had warned that the APC, National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva will be held responsible if harm came the way of former Rivers Governor, Dr. Peter Odili and his family.
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