November 15, 2021

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has dragged the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, into the widening web of a siege to the Abuja home of Supreme Court Justice, Mrs Mary Odili.

Police have arrested and paraded 14 suspects linked to the “very serious criminal offence” among whom is one CSP Lawrence Ajodo (now described by the police as a fake cop). Ajodo during his confessional statement mentioned Malami as the person who contracts him from time to time on debt recovery.

I have never given him a single case and if I have given him 29 cases, let him show the evidence of the engagement. I have never seen this man on earth, God knows and I believe there are certain (not only) criminal undertones, perhaps maybe some other undertones, by people who think that by hook or by crook the AG must be a target of aggression one way or the other

Ajodo, however, exonerated Malami from any collaboration on the Odili case, insisting that he acted of his own volition. But Malami had claimed that he has never had any dealings with Ajodo whether on the Odili case or on any other matter.

But Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, the minister introduced a fresh perspective to the unfolding drama. He accused the NBA President of having his own agenda by his insistence that Malami or somebody high up in government must have a hand in the wild chase by Ajodo and his gang.

Mr. Akpata while speaking on the matter, charged the police to go beyond the 14 suspects and those at large and expose the big masquerade(s) beating the drum. He said the NBA will not relent until those involved in the criminal act are brought to book.

On Ajodo, the minister said: “I have never given him a single case and if I have given him 29 cases, let him show the evidence of the engagement. I have never seen this man on earth, God knows and I believe there are certain (not only) criminal undertones, perhaps maybe some other undertones, by people who think that by hook or by crook the AG must be a target of aggression one way or the other”.

Malami said the suspect is not under the pay record of the ministry and even if he was, he would not carry out operations that are outside the scope of the ministry.

“Government business is regulated through due processes and procedures. So, you cannot be seen to be operating as a department under the office of the Attorney General and then operating outside the scope and regulations of the law.

“So, you can see clearly, the man said he was asked by the Attorney General to carry out that task. Ask him, which of the Attorneys-General and on account of which formal engagement?

“There are 36 Attorneys General across the nation inclusive of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. So, if he said he has been sent by the Attorney General, the next point is to ask him, who is the Attorney General,” the minister said.

Malami’s account of 36 Attorneys-General across the nation does not however help his case as Ajodo specifically mentioned the name Malami in his confessional.

Justice Odili’s home was raided on October 29 by persons purporting to be responding to a whistleblower who claimed that mountains of cash are being stacked in the home of the Odilis, situated at Ministers’ Hill in Maitama.

But questions about who initiated the incident have remained unanswered.