Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has joined the many across the world that have risen in condemnation of the invasion of the residence of Nigerian Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili.
A statement by the Ambassador Professor George Obiozor-led apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo, issued by Chiedozie Alex. Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, said that the siege “is an assault on several institutions: womanhood, judiciary, democracy, Rule of Law, civil society and indeed all facets of humanity.”
The body, therefore demanded “that an unreserved apology should be rendered to the highly revered Justice of the Supreme Court; and an assurance that such an embarrassment will never be contemplated.”
Full text of the statement reads:
SIEGE ON JUSTICE ODILI HOME-A FOUL MIASMA.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide joins millions of Nigerians in condemning the invasion of the privacy of Justice Mary Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We are pained that Nigeria is in the news, most of the time, for the wrong reasons. It is ethically reprehensible and globally unacceptable for the executive to invade the home of a senior member of the judicial arm of the government, in this case a Supreme Court Judge. It is simply a mockery on democracy and a foul miasma on the image of Nigeria. The siege on her home is an assault on several institutions; womanhood, judiciary, democracy, Rule of Law, civil society and indeed all facets of humanity.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Ambassador Professor Obiozor advises the relevant authorities that part of the roles of any person recruited by the government for any position whatsoever includes the protection of the image of the chief executive at all times. It is regrettable that Officers in federal government often over reach themselves thereby lending the presidency and indeed Nigeria a bad name in the comity of nations.
Justice Mary Odili is one of the few Judges in Nigeria with clean and intimidating credentials. All the schools she attended still post her brilliant performances. In spite of her distinctive background as the daughter of a prominent lawyer and traditional ruler, she has remained humble and hardworking; an upright moral edifice who resisted all the lucre that the Office of the First Lady provided during the 8 years the husband, Dr. Peter Odili, served as the governor of Rivers State.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo therefore demands that an unreserved apology should be rendered to the highly revered Justice of the Supreme Court; and an assurance that such an embarrassment will never be contemplated.
Chiedozie Alex. Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide
