About 43 days after some security and Federal Ministry of Justice personnel raided the Abuja official quarters of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili, the Federal Government on Wednesday hauled up 15 people before a Federal High Court, Abuja.
They were arraigned before Justice Nkeonye Maha on an 18-count amended charge bordering on forgery, criminal trespass, intimidation, and extortion against Justice Mary Odili
The defendants are also facing a charge of threatening Justice Mary Odili and members of her household “with injury to her person and reputation with intent to execute an illegal search warrant.’’
They are Lawrence Adjodo (a.k.a. Ola Ojo) , Michael Diete-Spiff, Alex Onyekuru, Bayero Lawal (a.k.a EFCC director), Igwe Ernest, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim, Hajiya Maimuna Maishanu, Dr Ayodele Akindipe (a.k.a. Herbalist), Yusuf Adamu (a.k.a. Godson to Chief Peter Odili).
Others are Bashir Musa, ASP Mohammed Yahaya, Stanley Nkwazema, Shehu Jibo, Abdullahi Adamu and Abdullahi Usman.
The seven defendants still at large include Ike Ezekwe, L/CPL Mike, Sani Bala, Godwin Lucas, Solomon Bagudu, Austin M. and Michael M.
Persecondnews.com reports that listed on the charge are 22 accused with seven of them still at large.
Earlier, Prosecution Counsel, Mr Mathew Omosun, from the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, told the court that he had an amended charge of 18 counts dated Dec. 13 and filed on Dec. 14.
“We have a charge dated Nov. 21 and filed the same day. We also have amended charge dated Dec. 3 and file the same day. We equally have an amended charge dated Dec 10 and filed Dec. 13.
“Further to these, we have an amended charge dated Dec. 13 and filed Dec. 14. We seek to withdraw those aforementioned charges and amended charges. But we have 18-count charge dated Dec. 13 and filed Dec. 14,” he told the court, urging that the charges be read to them to enable them take their pleas.
The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.
Omosun urged the court to make an order remanding the defendants in a correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of the case.
But their lawyers said the applications for bail had been filed for the accused.
Before giving his ruling, Justice Maha, had stood down proceedings for about 30 minutes.
