Supporters of Labour Party’s Peter Obi have been barred by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court from using the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos to hold their “Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally”.
This is coming after a lawsuit was filed by some lawyers who tried to stop the rally from holding in Lagos with the notice that it could translate into #EndSARS protest that happened in 2020.
Temilola Awosika, who happens to be the lead counsel of the lawyers had filed a motion at the Federal High Court, pleading the court to deny Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed an access to the Lekki Tollgate.
The suit, with the reference number FHC/L/CS/1729/2022; Mr Obi, Labour Party, Mr Baba-Ahmed, the Inspector General of Police, police commissioner in Lagos, SSS director-general, Lekki Concession Company Limited, Lagos attorney-general and the governor of Lagos, were among those joined as defendants in the case.
It will be recalled that supporters of Peter Obi had earlier fixed Friday, October 1, 2022, which is also independence day as the date of the rally.
During its ruling on Wednesday, Justice Daniel Osiagor asked the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, and the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Abiodun Alabi, to follow the orders of the court on the case.
Mr Osiagor noted that although Peter Obi’s supporters are not allowed access into the Tollgate, they can freely pass through the venue to access Falomo Bridge and other venues which they intend to use for the rally.
However, a preliminary objection filed by the defendants seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction could not be entertained. The parties to the suit claimed they were yet to be served.
The hearing of the substantive suit had been adjourned to November 4, 2022 by the Federal High Court.
