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By Lukman Olabiyi
Ahead of the proposed rally to commemorate second year anniversary of the #EndSARS protest, tagged “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” slated for October 1, 2020 or any other date, in Lagos State, 10 plaintiffs, including nine lawyers, have approached the Federal High Court, seeking to halt the rally.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to stop the Labour Party (LP), its candidates and supporters from staging the proposed rally. Specifically, they asked the court to restrain the LP, its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his vice, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally, pending the hearing and determination of their motion-on-notice of September 12, 2022.
The plaintiffs are Adedotun Ajulo, Salamatu Suleiman Lewi, Hakeem Ijaduola, Ogunbona Akinpelu, Owolabi K. Oluwasegun, Mogbojuri Kayode, Wuyep Mantim Nadom, Dimimu Mabel, Kolawole Salami, and Wale Abe Lawrence.
The first 10 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. They filed an ex parte motion before Justice Daniel Osiagor, through their counsel, Mr. Dada Awosika (SAN), leading Temilolu Adamolekun and others. The plaintiffs argued 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 a post-traumatic stress disorder for them and the public. They prayed the court for four reliefs.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the first, second, third and fourth defendants; their associates and loyalists from conducting the scheduled END SARS rally tagged as the “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally on the first of October, 2020 or any other subsequent date, at the Lekki Toll Gate until the hearing and determination of the motion-on-notice dated September 12, 2022.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the first, second, third and fourth defendants and their loyalists from further planning and promoting the Scheduled END SARS Rally tagged as the “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally”….
“An order of interim injunction restraining restraining the fifth, sixth, seventh defendants from allowing or granting permissions to the first, second, third and fourth defendants, their agents and the organisers of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” at the behest of the first, second, third and fourth defendants from carrying out the said anniversary on October 1, 2022 and any other subsequent date…
“An order of interim injunction restraining the eighth Defendant (LCC) from granting permission to the first, second, third and fourth defendants; their agents, privies, allies and loyalists, to make use of the Lekki Toll Gate or any space under and within the control of the eighth defendant for carrying out the said anniversary on October 1, 2022, and any other subsequent date…
Justice Osiagor directed the plaintiffs to put all the defendants on notice. The judge made the order following Awosika’s application. He adjourned the hearing of substantive motion till September 23, 2022.
