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… commends FG on arrest of suspects
Abiodun OBA
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has urged the Federal government to set up an independent panel of enquiry either judicial or otherwise, in order to ascertain what really transpired in the invasion of home of the Supreme Court Justice Odili on Oct. 29.
Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Mr Monday Ubani, on Saturday, made the call in Abuja while reacting to the arrest of suspects that carried out the invasion.
Ubani commended the government for its proactive efforts in tackling the issue.
He said that the development simply depicts the government’s commitment to addressing issues of this nature, and urged that the identity of the suspects be revealed in no time.
“It is a good development if we now have people that have been arrested; it simply means that the government is taking this seriously and it is also important that these people are made known in good time.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to debunk any idea that anyone has been found guilty or convicted.
“I was only appointed as a special investigator to get the side of the story for the use of the NBA, as the Bar, being the largest professional pressure group, is a major stakeholder in Nigerian Justice administration.
“Therefore, it is important for the NBA to get their own facts on this issue,” he said.
According to Ubani, it is important for the government to thoroughly deal with such weird occurrences now, so as not to raise their “ugly” faces in the future.
“It is worrisome for the home of the second-highest officer in the Judiciary to be invaded and then the invaders are discovered to be fake officials; it calls for concern and quick action.
“We, therefore, urge the Federal government to set up an independent panel of enquiry either judicial or otherwise, in order to ascertain what really transpired.
“I think this is the minimum the NBA demands,” he said.
Recall, the invasion has since met with widespread criticisms and concerns from the NBA as well as other public interest groups, calling for a thorough investigation into the ordeal.
The NBA on its part, had on November 5, set up a special investigation panel headed by Ubani, to facilitate the investigation process.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian police on November 11, announced that it had arrested a group of 14 persons, including a journalist, who allegedly posed as security personnel to raid the home of Odili.
Parading the suspects at the Force Headquarters annexe, the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, described the suspects as impostors.
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