By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Police Force, on Wednesday, arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, 15 persons it alleged were involved in the botched attempt to search the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili.
Police, in an 18-count amended charge dated December 14, alleged that the Defendants, attempted to execute a bogus search warrant they surreptitiously obtained from an Abuja Chief Magistrate, at Justice Odili's residence situated at No 7 Imo River Street, Maitama, Abuja.
It told the court that the Defendants, while claiming to be officials of a non existent Assets Recovery Unit under the Federal Ministry of Justice, invaded Justice Odili's home with the intent to extort and harass members of her household.
It said the Defendants, who were in possession of several forged documents and identification cards, claimed that they acted on the strength of a tip-off by a purported whistleblower, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim.
The said whistleblower, Umar, was among those that were docked before the court on Wednesday.
Defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/436/2021, included an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Ajodo Lawrence (Aka Ola Ojo), Micheal Diete-spiff, two legal practitioners, Alex Onyekwuru and Igwe Ernest, as well as a journalist, Stanley Nkwazema.
Others are; Bayero Lawal (aka director of EFCC), Hajiya Maimuna Maishanu, Ayodele Akindipe (Aka Herbalist), Yusuf Adaiu (aka godson to Peter Odili), Bashir Musa, Shehu Jibo, Abdulahi Adamu, Mohammed Yahaya and Abdulahi Usman.
Police told the court that five other suspects identified as Sani Bala, Godwin Lucas, Solomon Bagudu, Austin and Michael, who were involved in the attempt to raid Justice Odili's home on October 29, are currently at large.
Meanwhile, the 15 Defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them, even as Police lawyer, M. O. Amisu, applied for trial date and for their remand in a Correctional Center.
However, the Defendants, through their respective lawyers, prayed the court to release them on bail in liberal terms, pending the determination of the case against them.
Though the Prosecution counsel said he was not opposed to the Defendants' request for bail, he however urged the court to impose very stringent conditions.
As at the time this report was filed in, 6:28pm, trial Justice Evelyn Maha, was still listening to counsel to the Defendants.
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