Female Lawyer Peace Igbo Charged With “Obstructing Justice” Over Missing Suspect After Standing N1 Million Surety

According to Independent Nigeria, the charge sheet states that Ms. Igbo conspired to obstruct the course of justice by failing to present one Sodiq Kazeem, a suspect in an ongoing investigation into conspiracy, burglary, unlawful entry, stealing, and providing false information.

The charge reads in part: “That you, Peace Chidinma Igbo ‘F’, on the 25th day of November 2024 at the Nigeria Police Force CID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, did conspire to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice by failing to produce one Sodiq Kazeem, for whom you stood as surety in a bail sum of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000.00) in respect of a case of conspiracy, burglary, unlawful entry, stealing, and giving false information, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 97(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

During court proceedings, the complainant’s counsel, Mr. Olu Akanbi, argued that Ms. Igbo, being a legal practitioner, ought to have known the implications of standing surety and subsequently failing to fulfil the obligation.

He alleged that Ms. Igbo was shielding other individuals involved in the case and effectively taking the fall on their behalf.

“These individuals, who are being investigated by the police at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon Annex, are reportedly using both retired and serving senior police officers to frustrate investigations,” Akanbi told the court.

He commended the FCID officers for what he described as their “thorough and professional handling” of the case.

According to Akanbi, both Ms. Igbo and the absconding suspect, Mr. Sodiq Kazeem, are employees of Green Birch Tech Limited and are allegedly complicit, along with other staff members currently at large.

The case has been adjourned to May 20, 2025, with the court yet to decide on Ms. Igbo’s fate.