The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Labour Party, LP, and its supporters not to converge at the Lekki Toll Gate in furtherance of its planned #Obidatti23 rally scheduled for October 1.
The order was made by Justice Daniel Osiagor on Wednesday following an application brought by 10 persons seeking, among others things, to restrain the party, its Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi; Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed; and their loyalists from holding the rally.
The plaintiffs are Adedotun Ajulo, Salamatu Lewi, Hakeem Ijaduola, Ogunbona Akinpelu and Owolabi Oluwasegun.
Others are Mogbojuri Kayode, Wuyep Nadom, Dimimu Mabel, Kolawole Salami and Wale Lawrence.
The defendants in the suit include LP, Obi, Baba-Ahmed, Inspector-General of Police, IG, and Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
Other defendants are Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lekki Concession Company Limited, Attorney-General of Lagos State and Lagos State governor.
The judge held that while the rally participants should not converge at the Lekki Toll Gate, they can pass through it to access Falomo Bridge and other venues at which they planned to meet.
Justice Osiagor directed the IG and Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure compliance with the order.
However, a preliminary objection filed by the defendants, seeking to stop the court from hearing the suit, on grounds of incompetence, could not be heard.
Due to the fact that all the parties in the suit were not served the relevant court processes.
Hence, court is to hear the substantive suit on November 4.
In the suit, the plaintiffs averred, among others things, that a repeat or celebration of the “infamous” EndSARS protest of 2020 under the political guise of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” would cause a breakdown of peace and result in post-traumatic stress disorder for them and members of the public.
They are praying the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the first to fourth defendants and their loyalists from conducting the rally tagged `#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally on October 1 or any subsequent date, at the Lekki Toll Gate, until determination of the suit.
Again, the plantiffs are also seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants and their loyalists from further planning and promoting the scheduled rally.
The plaintiffs also seek an order of interim injunction restraining the fifth to seventh defendants from allowing the first to fourth defendants, or their agents from carrying out the rally on October 1 or any other date.
They equally want a court order to restrain the first to fourth defendants from making use of Lekki Toll Gate or any space under and within the control of the eighth defendant for carrying out the rally on October 1 or any subsequent date.
