By Lukman Olabiyi

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the Labour Party and its supporters not to converge on the Lekki Toll Gate for its #Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally, billed for Saturday, October 1, 2022.

The court also directed the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.

Justice Osiagor gave the directives while ruling on a motion for injunction brought by 10 plaintiffs, who asked 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.

The court also 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 where the LP supporters plans to meet.

A preliminary objection filed by the defendants seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction could, however, not be entertained as all parties to the suit had not been served.

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The court adjourned hearing of the substantive suit to November 4.

In the suit, 10 plaintiffs, through Romeo Ese Michael, 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 are Adedotun Ajulo; Salamatu Suleiman Lewi; Hakeem Ijaduola; Ogunbona Akinpelu; Owolabi K. Oluwasegun; Mogbojuri Kayode; Wuyep Mantim Nadom; Dimimu Mabel; Kolawole Salami, and Mr. Wale Abe Lawrence.

The first 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.