Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili:A Questionable Reprieve!

Written By: Ashimole Felix Esq.

The immediate past governor of the oil rich Niger Delta state of Rivers, was yesterday granted a perpetual injunction against prosecution and arrest by the Economic And Financial Crime commission (EFCC).

Sir Peter Odili had gone to court seeking an order to restraining the EFCC from arresting him, and investigating his activities in office as governor of Rivers state, between 1999 and 2007

The case with suit number FHC/PH/1291/07, after suffering series of adjournment was heard on 5th March 2008 and the presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba gave an injunction restraining EFCC by themselves, their agent and privy from arresting and prosecuting the embattled governor.

It will be recalled that Sir Peter Odili is married to Justice Mary Odili, a Justice of the Court Appeal. Tongues are still wagging whether Justice Odili was the most senior judge in Rivers State and by right of seniority at the bar, eligible for the catapulting to Court of Appeal.

Sir Peter Odili has been on the wanted list of corrupt ex-governors and Nigerians believed that for the anti graft war to be seen as meaningful, Odili must be brought to book. His counterpart in oil rich Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori had been a guest in Kaduna prison over his infamous conduct as a governor and inclination towards allowing “ladies” with shop lifted items to escape. During the live span of the Obasanjo regime, Sir Odili’s state was the most visited by Obasanjo. Even when the ex-president visited neighboring state, he spends the night in Port Harcourt. We know it just can’t be the enviable backside of Kalabari girls. Members of the Nigerian People’s Parliament (free readers found at newspaper vendor’s stand) opine that Odili is the mirror image of corrupt Obasanjo, who deceived Odili into believing that the presidential ticket of the PDP had been signed, sealed and delivered to him (Peter). Since the rest is history, it will serve students of history good, to find out what cowed Sir Odili, who had mobilized the South-South Assembly and heat up the polity to chicken out of the race, when his partner in…brought out a reluctant dark horse Yar’Adua to turn the apple cart.

An injunction is a discretionary order of the court, given judicially and justiciably to maintain the status quo till the substantive suit is dealt with. It is not a final judgment. And where its grant will occasion injustice, make the continuation of the case nugatory, it SHALL not be granted.

But his lordship by giving perpetual injunction to Sir Odili, has given judgment on the matter before it was heard. This amounts to going to heaven through the back door. In the most recent past, Nigerians are rekindling hope in the judiciary. But this ruling by the Federal High Court Port Harcourt, is a lamentable degeneration. This ruling coming at the heels of the Presidential Election Tribunal on the consolidated suit of Gen. Buhari of the ANPP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the AC, in a pungent reminder that the fluke witnessed in some quarters of the judicial arm, is not a significant development that a Daniel has come to court. Akin to this is the “questionable” affirmation of the election of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assemble, who is now acting Governor. The Court of first instance, had nullified the election and ordered for a bye-election. But the Court of Appeal, emboldened by the rape and conscienceless ruling of the 5 wise (sic) men in the Presidential (s)Election on 26th February 2008, over ruled the lower court.

This one yes on no ruling of the court, shows that we the ordinary Nigerians who thought our vote will count even if our candidate lost the election,are in for a rude shock as the hanging judgments in other guber tribunals, may not give us a cause to believe in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man. In deed in Nigeria, the scale of justice is badly tilted in favour of who has the heaviest “Ghana Must Go”, who can invite the judge’s wife to diner, award questionable legal consultancy contracts to the family members of a sitting tribunal judge.

Let all members of the judicial and fellow Nigerians be notified, the grave yard silence of Nigerians over their joint rape by the Police, the Army is not an act of cowardice, as the gentility of the cat is not synonymous with cowardice. While Nigerians await the ruling of the Supreme court, I make bold to say, this interlude, is a calm before the storm.

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