The party and its supporters scheduled 1st of October, Nigeria's Independence Day celebration for its mega rally ahead of the 2023 general elections.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has issued an order restricting the Labour Party and supporters of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from converging at the Lekki Toll Gate for #Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally.
Recall that the party and its supporters scheduled 1st of October, Nigeria's Independence Day celebration for its mega rally ahead of the 2023 general elections.
But the court on Wednesday directed the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order, Channels TV reports.
The order is sequel to a motion for injunction brought before Justice Daniel Osiagor, by 10 plaintiffs, asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally.
In the suit, 10 plaintiffs through their Romeo Ese Michael, Esq. are asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally, until the hearing and determination of their Motion-On-Notice of September 12, 2022.
The plaintiffs include 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 1st to 10th defendants are Obi, LP, Baba-Ahmed, Abure, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police (Lagos State Command), Director-General (Department of State Services), Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Limited, Attorney-General of Lagos State and The Governor of Lagos State.
In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs are arguing among other things that a repeat or celebration of the “infamous” EndSARS protest of 2020 under the political guise of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally,” will cause a breakdown of peace and will result in post-traumatic stress disorder for them and the public.
In his ruling, Justice Osiagor held that while the rally cannot stop at the Lekki toll gate, it can pass through the venue to access Falomo Bridge and other venues at which the rally plans to meet.
It was gathered that a preliminary objection filed by the defendants seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction was not entertained as all parties to the suit had not been served.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned hearing of the substantive suit to November 4.