*It’s not a pleasant moment for us at Supreme Court, CJN admits
*Mourns Justice Oseji
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday alleged plot by agents of the Federal Government to intimidate the judiciary by putting fears into judges.
The association, which is the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, maintained that the recent invasion of the official residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili, was part of the subterranean plan to subdue the judiciary.
Speaking at a valedictory court session held in honour of Justice Samuel Oseji, who died on September 28, about 10 months after he was elevated to the Supreme Court bench, NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, said it had already convened an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee, NEC, where immediate steps to protect the judiciary from the planned attack were prescribed and adopted.
He said it was thoroughly dissatisfied with the denials emanating from the relevant agencies and departments of government over who ordered the invasion of Justice Odili’s residence, saying the NBA would leave no stone unturned in its bid to unmask those behind the attack and bring to justice anyone found culpable, no matter how highly placed.
What the NBA chief said
Akpata said: “My Lords, on a day like this when His Lordship is being honoured by us all, this session should ordinarily be about the life and times of Hon. Justice Oseji and I ought to continue with my rendition of excerpts from his very many erudite judgements.
“However, it is pertinent that I pause at this point to dwell on the recent assault on the sanctity of this court by agents of this government who laid siege to the home of the Justice Mary Odili on Friday, October 29, 2021.
“I am of the firm belief that Justice Oseji himself would not forgive us if all we do today is to celebrate his life whilst we turn a blind eye on the actions of these agents of government who are obviously intent on desecrating this honourable court and, indeed, the entire Nigerian judiciary.
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“This sting operation by faceless security personnel calls for grave concern as it is undoubtedly an attempt to intimidate the Judiciary and to dissuade our Judges and Justices from dispensing justice without fear or favour.
“In the opening remarks of My Lord, the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Annual General Conference of the NBA held in Port Harcourt on October 25, 2021, Your Lordship threw a challenge at the Bar to always rise in defence of the Bench.
“I must once again reassure Your Lordships of the solidarity of the Bar with the Bench and its readiness to confront anyone intent on desecrating the temple of justice.
“In 2016 when there was a Gestapo-like invasion of the residences of some Justices by this same security agents, the Bar condemned in very strong terms the ridicule that the institution of our courts was subjected.
“It is with equal determination that we will also call out and discipline any of our members found to have been part of this despicable attempt to ridicule the Judiciary.
“Whilst we note that the Inspector-General of Police has announced the arrest of all the officers who invaded the residence of Justice Mary Odili, we, however, demand that the veil of secrecy behind which those who directed the said officers are hiding must be torn to shreds for them all to also be brought to justice.
“There should be no sacred cows. It must, however, be noted that just as was the case in 2016, when the homes of some judicial officers were invaded and more recently when the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria was illegally removed from office, the resolve of the Bar to rise in defence of the Judiciary can and will be undermined where our efforts in this regard are not concerted.”
The NBA described the late Justice Oseji who hailed from Idumuje-Uno in Aniocha North Local Government of Delta State, as an epitome of integrity and a jurist of unquestionable repute.
“At a time when finding men who match their profession of piety with equal measure of action has become a very difficult undertaking, my Lord stands out as one who walked his talk.
“Members of the Bar attest to the fact that he was a jurist of steel character and uncompromising in dispensing justice to those who deserve it,” it added.
CJN laments
In his speech at the valedictory court session, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mohammed Tanko, admitted that “this is indeed, not a pleasant moment for us at the Supreme Court.”
Noting that Justice Oseji died at a time his services were most needed, the CJN said: “My lord Justice Oseji gave his best in the 35 years of meritorious services to his fatherland and the generality of mankind, hence he is now somewhere over the rainbow where blue birds fly.
“He was such a dedicated and passionate judicial officer that never toyed with any task assigned to him.
“His rise to the Supreme Court bench was a testimony of hard work and total submission to the dictates of his profession.’’
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