Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
National Lawyers Coalition for Peter Obi/Ahmed Datti, has cleared the air on the “confusing and mischievous” reports by some media platforms (not Ikengaonline), concerning Wednesday’s Lagos High Court ruling which refused to cancel the October 1 mega rally for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.
The Coalition expressed surprise that contrary to the ruling of the Court, some media platforms for reasons best known to them, went to town with misleading information that the rally had been put off.
In a statement signed by Kelechukwu Uzoka, on behalf of others, the Coalition hailed the court ruling which refused to grant the prayers of the plaintiffs seeking to stop the rally.
The statement was entitled: “Victory for the Obidient Movement as the Federal High Court in Lagos Ordered that the Lagos 4 Million Man March Rally for Obi/Datti Movement & Labour Party can Hold on the 1st of October 2022.”
It said that the court only said that people for the rally should not use Lekki toll gate as assembly ground but could use it as every other citizens.
The coalition further explained that the court had ordered the Inspector General of Police to provide security for the people coming out for the rally.
Below is a full text of the statement obtained by Ikengaonline:
“It has come to our attention that some media houses wanted to twist the outcome of today’s (Wednesday) proceeding and have gone around town with clock baits, sensational headlines, and half-truths, without reporting fully what transpired in court today the 28th day of September 2022.
“In the Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1729 2022 Between Adedatun Ajulo Esq & 9 Others Vs Peter Gregory Obi & 9 Others which came up today the 28% day of September 2022 before Justice Daniel Osiagor sitting at the Federal High Court Lagos, the court ruled in favour of the prayers of the 1st to 4th respondent and ordered that the Obi/Datti Lagos rally should go on at the following locations, Lekki, Surulere and FESTAC on the 1st of October 2022.
“The court also ordered the inspector General of Police to provide protection and security for the supporters of the Labour Party candidate in all locations where the rally will hold. The court said that Obi-Datti supporters can pass through and use the Lekki toll gate like every order citizens during the rally but should not use it as an assembly ground.
“The Applicants counsel asked the court for a total ban on the Obi-Daiti October 1st Rally in Lagos State, particularly at Lekki Toll Gate. The court disagreed and ruled against him and said that if it should ban the Obi-Datti rally, then it should ban all political rallies and campaigns in Lagos. When that argument failed the Applicant’s counsel, turned to argue that the Obi-Datti rally was a disguise for the #EndSARS protest which led to the destruction of properties and lives in Lagos. The court again disagreed and overruled the counsel reminding him that according to the Lagos State #EndSARS Panel report, violence erupted after men in Military uniform opened fire on unarmed civilians at the toll gate on the evening of October 20, 2020.
“The Obi-Datti defence team led by Alex Ejesieme SAN argued that there had been no issue of violence from the Obi-Datti rally which is being held all over Nigeria and outside Nigeria and that the #EndSARS commemoration is not the same as the political rally and show of support for the Labour Party and its candidate.
“He further told the court that there was no intention to block the toll gate or any other public space used by Lagosians on the day of the rally. He said that the right to freedom of assembly is a constitutional right. Since political campaigns started today according to INEC’s electoral timetable, no one should be stopped from holding rallies or campaigns for their candidates. It is on the strength of these arguments that the court ruled in our favour today.
“Together we shall keep defeating tyranny.”
