By Hillary Asemota
The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday began interrogation of the 14 suspects including for complicity in the failed criminal trespass at her No. 7, Imo River Street, Maitama, the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili No. 7, Imo River Street, Maitama on Friday, 29th October.
The suspects were arrested following investigations conducted by detectives from the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) which the Police said revealed the criminal involvement and individual roles the suspects played in the invasion of the residence of the revered Supreme Court Judge.
Recall that the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, on 1st November, denied authorizing security operatives to carry out any assignment in or around the residence of Justice Mary Odili. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also disclaimed partaking in the invasion of the Justice in the guise of sting operation.
The IG according to Mr. Frank Mba, in a statement said the FIB was directed to carry out a discrete investigation with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to book.
The suspects according to the Police, included: Ajodo Lawrence, said to be the principal suspect, Michael Diete-Spiff, Barr. Alex Onyekuru, Bayero Lawal, Barr. Igwe Ernest, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim, Ms. Maimuna Maishanu, who is the only female in the suspects, Ayodele Akindipe, Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Musa, ASP Mohammed Yahaya, Mr. Stanley Nkwazema, Mr. Shehu Jibo, Abdullahi Adamu and L/CPL Mike (other name unknown).
Mba, added that the suspects are members of a well-organized criminal gang with a web-like involvement of individuals drawing from their different competences, professional background and social contacts in perfecting the criminal plot.
According to him, membership of the syndicate includes suspects with varied background in public service, business, law, journalism and banking.
The facts of the case from Police investigations have it that one Aliyu Umar Ibrahim, an acclaimed whistle blower, following a baseless and unverified information he got from one Yusuf Adamu – parading himself as the godson of Chief Peter Odili, allegedly got wind of a huge sum of money in foreign currencies starched in the residence of Justice Mary Odili’s house, initiated the processes aimed at illegally recovering the said money.
Consequently, the syndicate contacted one Bashir Musa, a clerical staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who in turn sought the assistance of 2 others, Shehu Jibo and Abdullahi Adamu.
The whistle blower was later introduced to one Bayero Lawal, who falsely presented himself as a Director in EFCC.
He took the whistle blower to one Hajiya Maimuna Maishanu who in-turn took them to her cousin, Michael Diete-Spiff, who claimed to be the Director of Foreign Currency Operation of Ghost’s Account for Local Whistle Blowers and Assets Recovery Panel, purportedly operating under the Federal Ministry of Justice – an agency that in fact does not exist, the Police added in its statement.
Diete-Spiff later introduced the whistle blower to one Lawrence Ajodo, with the aid of one Godwin (currently at large). From this moment, Lawrence Ajodo – who falsely claimed to be a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and also the officer in-charge of a non-existing Asset Recovery Panel at the Federal Ministry of Justice took over the planning and execution of the illicit operation.
Through the assistance of one Ayodele Akindipe, an herbalist, the fake CSP procured the services of an Assistant Superintendent of Police and 2 Soldiers for the failed operation.
The fake CSP also elicited the services of a journalist, one Stanley Nkwazema and two 2 lawyers: Onyekuru and Ernest.
While the journalist was expected to play the blackmail role, the lawyers were expected to help the syndicate in perfecting court documents and processes. The fake CSP later deposed to an affidavit and eventually obtained a search warrant meant for the execution of the raid.
Investigations so far conducted by the Police show that the suspects criminally trespassed on the residence of Justice Odili but were not allowed to execute the search warrant due to the lawful resistance from Police officers on guard duty at her residence.
Mba, explained that Police findings also revealed that the principal suspect – Lawrence Ajodo – is an impostor and not a police officer as he falsely claimed.
Also, the signature of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on the ID card presented by the fake CSP during the raid was forged, he added.
The Search Warrant which the suspects procured from a Magistrate Court for purposes of searching the premises of Justice Odili, was also obtained under false representation. The entire criminal operation has no authorization of any known security agency or MDAs.
According to him, the 3 vehicles used by the suspects for the illegal invasion and a laptop computer, printer and flash drive used for the production of the fake ID cards were recovered from the suspects by the Police investigators.
Meanwhile, investigation is being intensified to arrest the other 7 suspects including 2 persons believed to be personnel of the Nigeria Army who were physically present during the raid, and fully dressed in Army uniform.
