Bayelsa guber verdict: Senate, Reps caucus kick against assault on Justice Odili

The Rivers State National Assembly Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed displeasure over the recent assault on Judicial Officers by allegedly sponsored thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the judgment of Supreme Court in the Bayelsa Governorship appeal.

The Caucus via a statement co-signed by its leaders, Senator George Sekibo and Hon Kingsley Chinda, who frowned at the level of impunity being perpetrated in the polity, beckoned on international community to note this egregious assault on the dignity and office of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and hold agents of the All Progressives Congress and their backers responsible should any harm befall Justice Mary Odili or any member of her family.

“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.

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“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 unfavourable 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 favour of at least three APC Governors who are in office today.

“Finally, we call on Nigerians and the international community to note this egregious assault on the dignity and office of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and hold agents of the All Progressives Congress and their backers responsible should any harm befall Justice Mary Odili or any member of her family,” the caucus leaders urged.