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Prosecute Invaders Of Odili’s Residence, Rivers’ Leaders Tell FG …CUPP Alleges Plot To Arrest S’Court Justice …Attack Undermines Democracy, NBA, SANs Warn …Buhari’s Agents Intimidating S’South, PANDEF Alerts
Governor Nyesom Wike and leaders of Rivers State have issued 48hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to bring to book the masterminds behind the invasion of the residence of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Abuja, last Friday.
The Rivers leaders warned that should anything sinister happen to Justice Odili, her husband and former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, the Federal Government should be held accountable.
Wike made this assertion on behalf of Rivers State elders, federal and state lawmakers and local government council chairmen during a press briefing at the Transcop Hotel, Abuja, yesterday.
The governor said they have observed a pattern of persistent harassment of the Odili’s family in recent times by agencies of the Federal Government.
He recalled that on the fateful day the Supreme Court nullified the election victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, hoodlums suspected to be political thugs, invaded the residence of Justice Odili, but the Federal Government didnot take any steps to bring the culprits to book.
Wike noted that just recently, former Rivers State governor, Dr Peter Odili, had legitimately travelled out of the country for medicals, but on his arrival, his international passport was confiscated for inexplicable reasons by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He said initially, the Federal Government had feigned ignorance of the seizure of Odili’s passport.
Wike added that after the former governor approached the court to enforce his fundamental human right, the service eventually came up with spurious excuse to justify their ignoble act.
The governor described as most worrisome last Friday’s invasion of the residence of Justice Odili by Federal Government security agencies that claimed they had a warrant issued by a Magistrate Court to search the property.
He noted that though the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AbubakarMalami had denied involvement in the siege on Justice Odili’s residence, the people of Rivers State consider his mere denial as unsatisfactory.
The governor charged the Federal Government to, within 48 hours, apprehend all those involved in the raid of the residence of the Supreme Court justice, the alleged whistle-blower and also interrogate the magistrate who issued the order.
Wike said the people of Rivers State fear that the motive of those who invaded Odili’s residence may have been to assassin the Supreme Court justice, her husband and children.
He declared that the lives of Justice Odili and her husband are important to the people of Rivers State, and urged the Federal Government to ensure that nothing sinister happens to them.
Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) alleged that the Federal Government, through its security agents, invaded the residence of Justice Mary Odili, last Friday, in order to plant incriminating materials that would facilitate her arrest.
The CUPP made the allegation, yesterday in Abuja through a statement by its spokesperson, IkengaUgochinyere.
The statement is titled, “CUPP condemns invasion of Justice Odili’s Abuja residence …describes attack as attempt by Federal Government to plant incriminating materials in Odili’s house to arrest her …opposition parties say attack, height of Buhari regime’s executive recklessness.”
The group said it received with shock Friday’s invasion of the Abuja residence of the Justice of the Supreme Court, by armed security agents.
As a group of opposition political parties, CUPP said it “condemns this ungodly and illegal invasion in its entirety.”
Part of the statement read, “Despite its denial, we see the handwriting of the Federal Government clearly on this provocative action of the security agents which was an affront on another arm of government, the Judiciary.
“We know, based on past experiences, that the invasion was conceived and orchestrated by the Federal Government to plant incriminating materials in the house of the respected apex court’s Justice with a view to having a reason to arrest and keep her behind bar.
“With the development, CUPP says the Executive arm of government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has again taken its executive recklessness to a new and disturbing height.
“All lovers of democracy and friends of Nigeria must be concerned about this development which was meant to put fear in the mind of justices, therefore, pocketing the Judiciary so that the Federal Government can continue with its lawless, provocative and arbitrary actions without the checks and balances that are supposed to be provided by the other arms of government.
“The CUPP, therefore, calls on the Federal Government to restrain from further plunging the country into a state of lawlessness by its action.
“The opposition political parties also call on stakeholders in the nation’s temple of justice not to bow to any form of intimidation from the Federal Government, security agencies or any other persons or bodies for that matter.
“They should continue to carry out their roles as the last hope of the common man without fear or favour.”
In the same vein, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) decried Friday night’s siege laid to the residence of Justice Mary Odili of Supreme Court by security agencies.
While declaring that the siege to Justice Odili’s residence undermines the nation’s democracy, NBA stated that it was convening an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) to take a definitive stand on the incident.
President of NBA, Mr. Olumide Akpata, SAN, likened the siege to Justice Odili residence to a similar raid on the premises of Supreme Court Justices in 2016.
The NBA described the action as part of efforts designed to intimidate and ridicule the Judiciary.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Akpata, vowed that the association would no longer allow this to continue.
He said: “I have spoken with My Lord, Peter-Odili JSC and I am happy to report that she is alive and well. Beyond that however, it is my pledge to Nigerians that the NBA will get to the root of this matter.
“To be clear, Friday night’s event is an affront on the Judiciary and grossly undermines the democracy that we profess to practise. In line with the aims and objectives of the NBA which include the protection and defence of the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law in Nigeria, we will be convening an emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Committee solely to discuss this issue and take a definitive stand on behalf of the NBA.
“I will also lead a delegation to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr.AbubakarMalami (SAN) and the relevant heads of security agencies to seek further clarification on the circumstances of this incident. Thereafter, the NBA will ensure that all those responsible for this unfortunate incident are brought to book. We must do all that is required to safeguard the independence of our Judiciary and indeed protect our hard-won democracy.”
The umbrella body of the nation’s lawyers told security agencies that their actions erode independence of sacred democratic institutions.
“In case the law enforcement agencies have not learnt their lessons, events like this do nothing but erode the independence of sacred democratic institutions like the Judiciary, undermine the rule of law in Nigeria, and set the country back in the quest to instil confidence in citizens of Nigeria, Nigerian businesses, and foreign investors that Nigeria operates a democracy with an independent Judiciary,” Akpata said.
Akpata lamented that hours after the incident, it has been denials by government agencies and officials on who authorised the raid.
“The NBA received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege to the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, on Friday night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies.
“Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.
“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation under whose office the team that purportedly carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled has also denounced the team, which suggests the inference that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies. The grave implications of this possibility leave a lot to be desired.
“When viewed in the context of a similar raid on the premises of Supreme Court Justices in 2016, the rationale of which was never fully explained or indeed justified, the NBA interprets last night’s incident as a part of an orchestrated affront on the Judiciary, designed to intimidate and ridicule the Judiciary. The NBA will no longer allow this to continue.”
Also, ConcernedSeniorAdvocatesofNigeriaofSoutheasternExtractioncondemnedinstrongtermstheunlawfulraidonOctober29,2021,oftheresidenceofHonJusticeMaryPeterOdili,thesecondmostseniorJusticeoftheSupremeCourtofNigeria.
A statement signed by Prof. IlochiOkafor, SAN; Mr.EtigweUwa, SAN; and Mr.ChijiokeOkoli, SAN, on behalf of the concerned SANs, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, states: “Theraidsaidtohavebeenorchestratedbysomesecurityagencies,isyetanotherfrontalattackontheindependenceandintegrityoftheJudiciary.
“We areworriedthat this eventis part of a series of events aimedatsystematicallyintimidatingandemasculatingthe Judiciary.
“WerecallsimilarraidsbytheEFCC,theDSSandothersecurityoperativesonthepremisesof Justicesofthe SupremeCourtin2016,andresidenceofsomeJudgesoftheFederalHighCourt,inAbuja.
“Despitethese securityagenciespubliclystatingthe raidswereon mistakenidentityofthepremises,noonehas beenarrestedandprosecutedforsuchbrashcriminalattackonthejudiciary.
“SimilarraidsbytheDSSoperativeshadalsotakenplacein thecourtroomofthe HonJustice Ijeoma Ojukwuofthe FederalHighCourtwhilethe Judgewassitting,toabductadefendantinanon-goingcriminalcase,andnone oftheperpetratorshave beenheldaccountable.
“Theseconsistentand systematic attacks of the Judiciary bythe executive are clearlyinbreachoftheconstitutionalprotectionofjudgesandtheJudiciary.
“Inparticular,Section158andParagraph21Part1oftheThirdScheduleoftheConstitutionof the FederalRepublicof Nigeria 1999 clearly empowerthe National JudicialCouncil with responsibility tohandle all complaints and matters relatingtojudicialofficers.
“Thispositionofthelawhasbeenconfirmed inthecaseofNGANJIWAVFEDERALREPUBLICOFNIGERIA(2018)4NWLR(Pt.1609)301wheretheCourtofAppeal stated that‘If anyjudicialofficercommitsa professional misconduct within the scope of his duty and is investigated,arrestedandsubsequentlyprosecutedbysecurityagents,without aformalcomplaint/report tothe NJC, it will be a usurpation of the latter’s constitutionallyguaranteedpowersunderSection 158andParagraph21 Part1 of the Third Schedule, thereby inhibiting the NJC from carrying out its disciplinary control over erring judicial officers as clearly provided by the Constitution.… itisonlywhen theNJChasgivenaverdictandhandedoversuchjudicial officer (removing his toga of judicial powers) tothe prosecuting authority that he may be investigated and prosecuted by the appropriate securityagencies’.
“We re-emphasis thatit amounts to executive infraction onthe judicialindependencetocontinuetoharass,intimidateandhumiliatejudges.Wewant to further reiterate in clear terms that in view of the constitutionally guaranteeddoctrineofindependenceoftheJudiciary,nosecurityagencyor prosecuting authority in Nigeria has the power to investigate, arrest, or prosecute a siting judicial officer without first referring the matter to theNationalJudicialCouncil,andawaitthedirectiveofthecouncil.
“WecallonthePresidentandCommander-in-ChiefoftheArmedForcesoftheFederalRepublicofNigeriatoimmediatelydirectinvestigationofallsecurityagents andotherpersonswhoplayed anyroleinthisassaultonthe Judiciaryandanypersonsfoundculpableshouldbe madetoface thefull wrathofthelaw”, the statement added.
In its reaction, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) condemned, in the strongest terms, the raid on the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili, a Justice of Nigeria’s Supreme Court, and wife of former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Peter Odili.
A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Hon. Ken Robinson, last Saturday, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, said: “The raid, in dusk hours of last Friday, is not only crude and primitive but barbaric and dictatorial. It is another attempt by agents of the MuhammaduBuhari administration to further intimidate and humiliate the nation’s Judiciary. And this is one of such actions too many, against persons of Southern extraction, particularly, persons from the South-South Geopolitical Zone.
“PANDEF recalls that it was in the same nefarious manner that the Abuja residence of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, was invaded in January, 2019, which was considered by many as part of political machinations, leading to the 2019 General Elections. Justice Walter Onnoghen was later suspended, made to face a “kangaroo” trial over trumped-up charges, and was forced to retire.
“Earlier, in 2016, the DSS or SSS, in a Gestapo manner, raided the homes of John Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, who is now deceased, alongside the residences of AdeniyiAdemola, and NnamdiDimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“PANDEF calls on all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to rise in unison and condemn these atrocious actions against citizens by the federal government and its agents. While calling on the international community, especially the United Kingdom and the United States, not to remain indifferent to the oppressive actions of the Nigerian government against its citizens.
“Nigeria is not an ‘Animal Kingdom’, and we cannot afford to let it plummet to that state; the ramifications would be catastrophic for the entire world.
“PANDEF, therefore, implores President MuhammaduBuhari to stop actions that are capable of thwarting the nation’s democracy, for prosaic and political intentions. Those who ordered and carried out the scatological invasion of the home of Justice Mary Odili must be identified and punished appropriately. Enough of this nonsense!
“The government should also offer a public apology to the nation’s Judiciary, as well as, to the Justice of the Supreme Court. It is significant to note that Justice Mary Odili is the second most senior Justice of the Supreme Court”, the statement added.
It would be recalled that following reports that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and some officers of the Nigerian Police, had last Friday stormed the Maitama home of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, the Rivers StateGovernor, Chief NyesomWike, Friday night visited the house to confirm the story.
Others who accompanied the governor to the house include former minister of transport, DrAbiyeSekibo; Founder of DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi;former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Austin Okpara; and OkonAniete and former Senator Lee Maeba.
Reports had alleged that some anti-graft agents invaded the judge’s home to execute a search warrant as part of investigations into her husband, Dr Peter Odili, who is a former governor of Rivers State.
However, in a statement by Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the commission condemned the report, noting that none of its officers carried out the said operation.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to claims in a section of the media that operatives of the commission today, October 29, 2021 stormed the Maitama, Abuja home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, purportedly to execute a search.
“The commission by this statement wishes to inform the public that the report is false as it did not carry out any operation at the home of Justice Odili. If there was any such operation as claimed by the media, it was not carried out by the EFCC. The commission enjoins the public to discountenance the report”, the statement added.
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Fubara Pledges Support For Corporate Organisations In Rivers …Says PPP Business Model Responsible For NLNG’s Success
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged the continued support of his administration for the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
Fubara gave the assurance while receiving the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NLNG, Mr Adeleye Falade, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
He assured that his administration would continue to contribute its own quota in support of the NLNG.
According to him, the success of the organisation is equally the success of the government of Rivers State and the success of the Federal Government.
“Our duty is to make sure that we support whoever is operating in our state. We are the ones here. If we don’t support you and you don’t succeed, we also will not succeed and Mr President will also not succeed.
“So, the success of your establishment is the success of our state, and overall success of Nigeria. So you can count on our support. Wherever you think we need to come in to support you, please do not hesitate to call upon us.
“You just mentioned here that your predecessor left a handover note showcasing the level of support that he got from the state. It is not going to be different in your own case. I can assure you that. I will also ensure that other units of the government will liaise with you when necessary. So even if you can’t get to me, you can always get to them and if there is anything we can do to help your establishment succeed, we will do it for you,” he said.
The governor attributed the success of the NLNG to the Public Private Partnership ( PPP) business model adopted by the Federal Government and the multinational oil companies.
The NLNG is jointly owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49%, Shell Gas B.V. with 25.6%, Total LNG Nigeria Ltd with 15%, and Eni International with 10.4%.
The partnership model allows for shared risks, costs, and expertise in the LNG sector.
The governor noted that the NLNG has not only survived the difficult business environment but has made sustained progress in the nearly three decades of its existence.
According to him, the decision of the Federal Government to allow the multinational oil companies who have the needed expertise to run the establishment while government plays a supervisory role over it has largely been responsible for its success.
“I’m very proud to say that if there is one establishment that has shown resilience, that has survived in the face of all the political issues prevalent in this country, it is the NLNG. And what is the reason? The reason is very simple. Government has no business in business. That is the truth. Leave the business for those people who can operate it. Let the government play its supervisory role to ensure that there is compliance with the laws; ensure that standards are maintained and also ensure that the right people with the needed expertise are at the helm of affairs. That’s all. I think that is the reason why we still record a lot of successes in NLNG,” he said.
In his opening remark, the new NLNG boss, Mr Adeleye Falade, who led other top officials of the company on the visit, expressed appreciation to the governor for granting them audience, and appealed to the State Government to continue to support the organisation.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and deepen this important relationship.We deeply value the support the Rivers State Government continues to extend in fostering an enabling operating environment for businesses. NLNG remains deliberate in its contribution to Nigeria’s development, and Rivers State, our primary host, continues to be central to that commitment,” he said.
Falade said the company has continued to work with its host communities to strengthen their capacity to identify, prioritise, and deliver sustainable development initiatives that create lasting impact.
According to him, communities including Amadi-ama, Abua, Ekpeye, Okrika, Kalabari, and Emohua have continued to benefit from this model.
He said that beyond community infrastructure, the NLNG has sustained investments in economic empowerment through initiatives such as Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES) and Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) schemes.
These, he said, were designed to support small businesses, build capacity, and stimulate local enterprise across the state.
Among officials of the company who accompanied the Managing Director were General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall; Manager, Government Relations, Mr Abdul Umar; Manager, Community Relations, Dr. Yemi Adeyemi; Head of Government Relations, Mr Mike Igoni; Head of Community Liaison and Engagement, Chief Ifeanyi Umeh.
Others are Technical Assistant to Executive Leadership, Mr Hassan Saleh; Senior Media and Publicity Advisor, Mr Emma Nwatu; Government Relations Advisor, Miss Homa Nmegbu; Senior Government Relations Advisor, Mrs Kate Allison, and Audio -Visual Advisor, Mr Dawood Ahmed.
The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians and the international community of the country’s stability following a recent advisory by the United States authorising the departure of non-emergency personnel from its embassy in Abuja.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
According to the minister, public institutions across the country remain fully operational, with no disruption to governance, economic activities, or daily life.
This followed the decision of the United States Mission in Nigeria to suspend visa appointments at its Embassy in Abuja.
The mission’s decision was contained in a post shared on its official X handle, yesterday.
It stated, “U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments.”
The mission, however, clarified that visa operations at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos remain ongoing.
The development comes amid a broader security advisory issued by the United States, which authorised the departure of non-emergency staff from its Abuja embassy and expanded its Nigeria travel blacklist to 23 states.
The State Department issued the authorised departure order on Tuesday, alongside an updated travel advisory that added Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger and Taraba to its highest warning category, “Do Not Travel.”
While the overall advisory rating for Nigeria remains at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” the department warned that some areas face increased risks due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping and limited healthcare availability.
According to the advisory, Americans are often targeted for kidnapping and robbery, while terrorist attacks continue to pose a threat across multiple locations, including markets, religious centres, hotels and public gatherings.
It also raised concerns about the state of emergency healthcare in the country, noting that hospitals often require immediate cash payments, ambulance services are unreliable and poorly equipped, and blood supply systems are inconsistent.
Medical facilities in Nigeria, the advisory said, generally do not meet United States or European standards, adding that evacuation may be necessary in medical emergencies.
The advisory further urged US citizens in Nigeria to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme, avoid large gatherings, vary their routines and maintain evacuation plans that do not depend on US government assistance.
It also recommended that individuals establish “proof of life” protocols with family members in the event of kidnapping.
The blacklist is divided into regional clusters. Borno, Kogi, Yobe and northern Adamawa remain under the terrorism, crime and kidnapping category, with the State Department warning that terrorist groups continue to plan and carry out attacks, sometimes in collaboration with local gangs.
For Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, the advisory points to widespread banditry, communal clashes and kidnapping, while noting that security operations may occur without warning.
In the South-East and Niger Delta, states including Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo and Rivers (excluding Port Harcourt) are flagged for crime, kidnapping and civil unrest, with armed gangs and violent protests posing significant risks.
The latest update added Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger and Taraba to the “Do Not Travel” list, citing the spread of insecurity into new regions, particularly in the Middle Belt where farmer-herder conflicts have intensified.
The advisory described the security situation in these newly added states as unstable and unpredictable, with counter-operations by security forces likely to occur without prior notice.
Idris, however, described the US advisory as a routine precaution based on internal protocols, stressing that it does not reflect the overall security situation in the country.
“While we acknowledge isolated security challenges in some areas, there is no general breakdown of law and order, and the vast majority of the country remains stable,” Idris said.
He noted that ongoing security operations have recorded measurable gains across several regions, attributing the progress to coordinated military efforts, intelligence-led interventions, and strengthened inter-agency collaboration.
“Our security agencies remain actively engaged in protecting lives and property, and the results of these efforts are increasingly evident,” he added.
According to the minister, recent operations have disrupted criminal networks, curtailed the activities of armed groups, and improved safety in vulnerable communities.
Idris also maintained that Nigeria remains open for business, travel, and investment, adding that ongoing economic reforms are strengthening investor confidence and enhancing the country’s global standing.
He said, “International partners and investors continue to engage actively with Nigeria, reflecting confidence in the country’s stability and long-term prospects.”
The minister urged foreign governments to ensure that their advisories reflect current realities and ongoing progress in the country.
“We encourage our international partners to continuously engage with Nigerian authorities to obtain a more comprehensive and current understanding of the situation on the ground,” he said.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to sustaining security improvements and ensuring the safety of citizens and visitors, assuring that Nigeria remains a safe and welcoming destination.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, yesterday extended interim relief measures to the people of Bille Kingdom as the government intensifies efforts to address the ongoing environmental degradation affecting the area.
This was contained in a statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Juliana Masi, yesterday.
The governor, during a working visit to Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area, reassured residents of his deep concern for their health and well-being.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the persistent gas emissions observed in the community’s land and water sources since November 2025.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dagogo Wokoma, the governor announced immediate interventions to address urgent needs.
Some of the relief measures include the provision of potable water and essential medical services through the release of ?100 million as palliative support for the affected community.
According to the SSG, “Governor Fubara remains deeply committed to the welfare of the people of Bille Kingdom. Although unable to attend in person due to pressing state engagements, he is fully aware of the situation and determined to tackle the root cause of the environmental challenge”.
The governor assured residents that the state government would not relent in its efforts to provide a permanent solution to the gas emissions, emphasizing that the current intervention is only a temporary measure to ease the suffering of the people.
He further urged members of the community to remain law-abiding and continue supporting his administration, noting that he has consistently demonstrated a track record of fulfilling his promises.
Earlier, the Chairman, Council of Chief for Bille Kingdom, Chief Bennet Dokubo, expressed joy over the State visit, describing Fubara as a leader who listens to the plight of the people.
He urged the governor to critically look into the gas emission which he described as dangerous to human health.
“If we take you into the river, we notice that the entire environment is bubbling and smelling.
“We most humbly urge you to critically look into this situation. This is something strange we have never experienced before. It is not good for human health,” the monarch stressed.