Former Supreme Court Justice Mary Peter-Odili Denies Influencing Presidential Election Tribunal in Favor of President Bola Tinubu
Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Peter-Odili, has forcefully denied allegations that she wielded her influence to favor President Bola Tinubu during the Presidential Election Tribunal proceedings.
Responding to a publication that accused her of “negotiating a pathway for President Bola Tinubu” and meeting regularly with justices from the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court to sway the judgment, Peter-Odili categorically refuted the claims, labeling them as malicious and false.
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The retired judge, who holds a respected reputation within the Nigerian legal community, dismissed the accusations as an attempt to tarnish her integrity.
In a statement issued by her Media Assistant, Felix Enebeli, Peter-Odili made it unequivocally clear that the allegations were baseless and calculated to undermine her standing.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication circulating in the social media against the person of the retired Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, wherein the author, one Jackson Ude, falsely and maliciously alleged inter alia, that the revered jurist is ‘currently negotiating a pathway for Bola Tinubu’ and that ‘she meets regularly with Appeal and Supreme courts’ in that regard.”
Further, the statement continued, “We deny every allegation contained in the publication and state that the publication is false, malicious, mischievous and a deliberate attempt at smearing the integrity and solid reputation of her lordship.”
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Mary Peter-Odili expressed her concerns that the publication could potentially fan public sentiments against her, given the gravity of the issue in question.
The retired justice staunchly defended her character and reputation, emphasizing her dedication to the principles of justice and impartiality throughout her career.
This denial by Mary Peter-Odili comes amidst heightened scrutiny on the impartiality and integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria, especially in the context of high-stakes cases such as presidential election petitions.
As the nation grapples with these allegations and seeks to uphold the rule of law, the statements by both the retired judge and the accuser will likely prompt further discussions on the subject of judicial independence and ethics.
