By James Orji
The Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN has denied any link with suspects who invaded the Abuja home of Justice Mary Odili on October 30.
The development comes on the back of the arrest of 14 suspects by the police for carrying out the invasion. While parading the suspects on Thursday, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police and spokesperson of the Force said seven suspects were still on the run.
Those in police custody are Ajodo Lawrence ‘m’ (principal suspect), Michael Diete-Spiff ‘m’, Bar. Alex Onyekuru ‘m’, Bayero Lawal ‘m’, Bar. Igwe Ernest ‘m’, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim ‘m’, Maimuna Maishanu ‘f’, Ayodele Akindipe ‘m’, Yusuf Adamu ‘m’, Bashir Musa ‘m’, ASP Mohammed Yahaya ‘m’, Stanley Nkwazema ‘m’, Shehu Jibo ‘m’ , Abdullahi Adamu ‘m’ and L/CPL Mike (other name unknown) ‘m’.
Some security operatives, including Ajodo, a chief superintendent of police claiming to be working in the AGF office had invaded the residence of Odili, a Justice of the Supreme Court brandishing a warrant issued by the Chief Magistrate of Wuse Zone 6 Magisterial division in Abuja, Emmanuel Iyanna.
The security men said they acted on the instruction of the nation’s chief law officer.
But in a statement issued on Thursday by Umar Gwandu, spokesman to the AGF, Malami said the allegation was an attempt by some persons to heat up the system. He had nothing to do with the suspects, the AGF said.
According to him, “with all the competent, high level professionals and capable human resources available at the disposal of the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, it only takes the imagination of the evil minds to assume or think that the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice will descend so low to engaging a quack or fake police officer to serve as his consultant.
“This is a case of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner. We are happy to note that investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances and personalities behind the invasion and sponsored campaign of calumny against the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.”
He said some persons are trying to drag his name in the mud and bring his high office to disrepute, adding that there is not concrete evidence to back up the claim.
“We asked the suspect to present documents of engagements where he worked as a consultant to the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, whether in past or now.
“Consultant for what? Which activity or assignment? When was he engaged? What were the terms of references for the alleged consultancy service? When was he engaged? Where was he engaged? Which worked has he executed for the honourable attorney-general of the federation and the ministry of justice? For what duration? And for how much?
“We boldly and unequivocally challenge the fake consultant/police officer to come out with answers or responses to these questions to the general public.
“The honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice superintends over and respects the rule of law and will not do anything to undermine the sanctity of his office and that entire judiciary and justice sector,” the statement said.
