The Imo chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has decried Friday’s reported siege on Justice Mary Peter-Odili’s residence by security operatives.

This is contained in a communique issued in Owerri at the end of a meeting of Chairmen of the five NBA branches in the state on Monday.

The communique was signed by Mr J.I. Ogamba (Owerri), Chief A.U. Ugboaja (Mbaise), Mr R.C. Ndeme (Okigwe), Mr B.A. Munonye (Orlu) and Chief Richard Anyanwu (Mbano/Etiti).

The group described the siege as “barbaric”, urging the Federal Government to unravel those behind the incident.

The communique reads in part: “the invasion is reminiscent of the better-forgotten and unsavoury invasions of the houses of justices and judges by officers of DSS in a purported ‘sting operation’ in 2016.

“The purported Order made by the Magistrate Court, Wuse, has been revoked by the Magistrate, who made same.

“All the relevant security agencies have denied involvement in this unfortunate incident; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, has come out to deny knowledge of this barbaric action by rogue security agencies.

“These go to show that the shield-bearers of our democracy (Judiciary) now easy prey to the same security agencies who are meant to protect them”.

The lawyers called for “a thorough investigation into the sequence of events, culminating into the siege, and for all those culpable to be dealt with in accordance with the extant laws.

“It would serve as a deterrent to would-be overzealous security agents and their collaborators in power, who may be tempted to embarrass and ridicule the judiciary,” they added.