Supporters of Labour Party and its Presidential candidate Peter Obi are not to congregate at the Lekki toll gate for its Forward Ever Rally scheduled to take place on October 1, 2022, according to an injunction from the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Abiodun Alabi, and Inspector General of Police Usman Baba were both given instructions by the court to make sure the ruling was followed.
The order was made today by Justice Daniel Osiagor in response to a motion for injunction filed by ten plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are requesting the court to prevent the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure, and their supporters from holding the rally, among other things.
The court further ruled that although Obi’s supporters cannot stop at the Lekki toll gate, they are permitted to do so in order to get to the Falomo Bridge and other locations where the event is scheduled to take place.
However, because all parties to the lawsuit had not been served, the defendants’ preliminary objection, which sought to prevent the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction, could not be taken into consideration. The hearing for the main lawsuit was postponed by the court until November 4, 2022.
In the suit, 10 plaintiffs are Adedotun Ajulo Esq., Salamatu Suleiman Lewi Esq., Hakeem Ijaduola, Esq., Ogunbona Akinpelu Esq., Owolabi K. Oluwasegun, Esq., Mogbojuri Kayode Esq., Wuyep Mantim Nadom Esq., Dimimu Mabel, Esq., Kolawole Salami, Esq. and Mr. Wale Abe Lawrence.
The first through tenth defendants are Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Limited, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Obi, LP, Baba-Ahmed, Abure, the Commissioner of Police (Lagos State Command), Director-General (Department of State Services), and the Governor of Lagos State.
The plaintiffs in the substantive lawsuit contend, among other things, that a repetition or celebration of the “infamous” EndSARS demonstration of 2020 under the political cover of the “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” will disrupt the peace and lead to PTSD in both them and the general public.
