Fifteen persons were on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the invasion of the official residence of a Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili.

In an 18-count amended charge it filed on December 14, the police 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.

They 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.

The police said the defendants, armed with 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 who were docked before the court on Wednesday.

Also cited as defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/436/2021, included an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Mohammed Yahaya, Adjodo Lawrence (Aka Ola Ojo), Micheal Diete-spiff, two legal practitioners, Alex Onyekwuru and Igwe Ernest, as well as a journalist, Stanley Nkwazema.

READ ALSO: Police Parade Malami’s Consultants Who Invaded Justice Odili’s Home

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, and Abdulahi Usman who was identified as an immigration officer.

The 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, were at large.

Meanwhile, the 15 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them while police lawyer, CSP Matthew Amosun, applied for a trial date and for them to be remand in a correctional centre.

However, the defendants, through their respective lawyers, prayed the court to release them on bail on 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 urged the court to impose very stringent conditions.

After the court stood down the matter for over two hours, trial Justice Nkeonye Maha, in a ruling she delivered around 8:48 p.m., said she found no reason not to admit the defendants to bail.

Consequently, she gave bail to 13 of the defendants in the sum of N5 million each with two sureties in the like sum.

The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a responsible citizen that owns a landed property in Abuja not below the bail sum.

She held that the second surety must be gainfully employed in Abuja and must not only show evidence of three years tax payment, but also depose to an affidavit of means.

READ ALSO: NBA May Sanction Malami, Others Over Invasion Of Justice Odili’s Home

The court further seized the passports of all the defendants.

The court noted that whereas the 11th defendant made an oral application for bail, the 13th defendant had no legal representation.

While the court remanded 14 of them at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kuje, the 7th defendant who is a female, was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of all their bail conditions.

The case was subsequently adjourned till January 17 for trial.

Meanwhile, some counts in the charge against the defendants, read: “That you Adjodo F. Lawrence (aka Ola Ojo), Micheal Diete-Spiff ‘M’, Barr. Alex Onyekuru ‘M’, Bayero Lawal (aka director of EFCC) ‘M’, Barr. lgwe Ernest ‘m’, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim ‘M’, Maimuna Maishanu ‘F’, Dr. Ayodele Akindipe (aka Herbalist) ‘M’, Yusuf Adamu (aka godson to Chief Peter Odin) ‘M’, Bashir Musa ‘M’, ASP Mohammed Yahaya ‘M’, Stanley Nkwazema ‘M’, Shehu Jlbo ‘M’, Abdulahi Adamu ‘M’, Abdulahl Usrnan ‘M’, and others at large, on or about the 29th day of October 2021 at No. 7 lmo-River Street, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did attempt to put the members of Hon. Justice Mary Odili’s household in fear of injury in order to commit extortion and thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 293 of the Penal Code Law (Cap 89 Laws of the Northern Nigeria 1963).

“That you Adjodo F. Lawrence (aka Ola Ojo) Michael Diete-Spiff ‘M’, Barr. Igwe Ernest ‘m’, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim ‘m’, Maimuna Maishanu ‘f’, Dr. Ayodele Akindipe (aka Herbalist) ‘m’, Yusuf Adamu (aka godson to Chief Peter Odil) ‘m’, Bashir Musa ‘m’, ASP Mohammed Yahaya ‘m’, Stanley Nkwazema ‘m’, Shehu Jibo ‘m’, Abdulahi Adamu ‘m’, Abdulahi Usman ‘m’, and others at large on or about the 28th day of October 2021 at the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did aid, counsel, procure and conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony, to wit; making and altering of forged document thereby commit an offence punishable under section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you Adjodo F. Lawrence (aka Ola Ojo), Micheal Diete-Spiff ‘M’, Barr. Alex Onyekuru ‘M’, Bayero Lawal (aka director of EFCC) ‘m’, Barr. Igwe Ernest ‘m’, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim ‘m’, Maimuna Maishanu ‘f’, Dr. Ayodele akindipe (aka Herbalist) ‘m’, Yusuf Adamu (aka godson to Chief Peter Odili) ‘m’, Bashir Musa ‘m’, ASP Mohammed Yahaya ‘m’, Stanley Nkwazema ‘m’, Shehu Jibo ‘m’, Abdulahi Adamu ‘m’, Abdulahi Usman ‘m’,and others now at large on or about the 28” day of October 2021 at Jahi 1, after transformer junction, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did aid, counsel, procure and conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony, to wit forgery and altering of forged document and thereby commit an offence punishable under section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you Adjodo F. Lawrence (aka Ola Ojo), on or about the 28″ day of October 2021 at Jahi 1, after transformer junction, Abuja, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did make and alter forged identity card with the inscription: Ndayebo A.M., Admin officer, Assets Tax Recovery Unit with ID No. 008 and with the logo of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Nigeria Police, Department of State Security Service and the Nigeria coat of arms, knowing it to be false or with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine in Nigeria to the prejudice of residents of the No.9 Imo street Maitama Abuja and thereby commit an offence, punishable under section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.

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