Lawyers operating under the aegis of the Obident Lawyers Forum have demanded that the Federal High Court in Abuja, should order President Bola Tinubu, to compel the Police, Department of State Service (DSS) and others to give special protection to the Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 election.
The legal practitioners informed the court that their appeal has become imperative so as not to make Peter Obi a victim of political assassination before and during the 2027 general electioneering process.
The request was contained in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2016, instituted against Tinubu, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector General (IG) of Police, Director-General, DSS and the Governor of Edo State.
Plaintiffs in the suits filed on Monday July 27, predicated their request on a statement credited to Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to the effect that Obi’s life and security would not be guaranteed in Edo State, if he enters the state without getting approval from the governor.
The Obident lawyers represented by Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Joseph Enemona Ameh instituted the fundamental rights suit on behalf of Peter Obi in which they prayed the court to issue order that Petet Obi has fundamental rights to freedom of movement without any hindrance.
Among other reliefs, they asked the court to declare Peter Gregory Obi, the 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has the fundamental rights to life and right to live without any fear, discrimination, threat of assassination, intimidation or any form of harassment whatsoever, as guaranteed in section 33 (1) of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria;
In addition they urged the court to declare that Peter Obi must not be subjected to politically motivated coercion, threat to life, bullying, harassment, assault, intimidation and victimization whatsoever, by any arm of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or any authority, person, individual or groups, agents/agencies of the Federal Government or Government of any sub-Regional State, on the grounds of his political ideology, ethnicity and religion; or for any reason whatsoever.
Others are “A declaration that Mr. Peter Gregory Obi the 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has the fundamental rights of free ingress and egress into any of the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the FCT, and can freely move around, enter, visit, stay, reside, inhabit and organize, attend and host his political campaign rallies, consultations, seminars, groups meetings and carryout his lawful activities in any part of Nigeria, without fear of assassination, threat to his life, bullying, harassment, assault, intimidation and victimization whatsoever, by any Arm of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or any authority, person(s) individual or groups, agents/agencies of the Federal Government or Government of any sub-regional State, as guaranteed in sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A declaration that the threats by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo that Mr. Peter Obi’s life and security are not guaranteed in Edo State, and that Mr. Peter Obi should not to step into Edo State without getting a clearance from him are empty not backed by law, anti-democratic, illegal, unlawful and tantamount to executive rascality, infantile-politicking and power-drunkenness.
“A declaration that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of The Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the constitutional mandate/responsibility to provide adequate security of life and property to the citizens, which is the fundamental reason/purpose/objective of every government; and the President has the constitutional responsibility as Commander in Chief to direct the 3th, 4th and 5th Respondents and Heads of all Security Agencies in Nigeria to provide maximum security protection/intelligence to Mr. PETER GREGORY OBI and all other presidential candidates.
Plaintiffs further urged a declaration that the laws setting up the security agencies mandates and empowered the 3rd, 4th and 5 Respondents to provide adequate security to the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against all criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their properties or lives.
Meanwhile, they asked the court to make an order, “compelling, directing and mandating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct the 3th, 4th and 5th Respondents and Heads of all other Security Agencies in Nigeria to provide maximum security protection/intelligence to Mr Peter Gregory Obi, the 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and all other 2027 presidential candidates.
“AN order compelling, directing and mandating the 3th, 4th and 5 Respondents to immediately provide maximum security personnel to Physically Protect and Provide Security Intelligence to Mr Peter Gregory Obi, the NDC 2027 Presidential candidates.
In an affidavit deposed in support of the suit, the plaintiffs stated that the application was brought on behalf of Mr Peter Gregory Obi pursuant to Paragraph 3 (e) of the Preamble to the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.
“That the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, said in a recent live podcast that “he may not be alive to contest next ‘year’s presidential election”.
While claiming that Mr. Peter Gregory Obi has been subjected to serious psychological torture and trauma by the numerous threats to his life and this is detrimental to his constitutional rights, the deponent argued that no person or authority or any arm of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or any authority, person(s) individual or groups, agents/agencies of the Federal Government or Government of any sub-regional State, has the powers to restrict or refuse any citizen from entering and exiting any part of Nigeria to carry out his lawful activities as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That the 6th Respondent, the Governor of Edo State of Nigeria, Senator Monday Okpebholo Threatened Mr. Peter Gregory Obi not to enter Edo State without his permission and that Mr. Peter Gregory Obi’s life and security is Not Guaranteed in Edo State. Computer generated printout of the news report is herein pleaded and exhibited as EXHIBIT 3.
“That the threats by the Edo State Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo that Mr. Peter Obi’s life and security are not guaranteed in Edo State, and that Mr. Peter Obi should not to step into Edo State without getting a clearance from him are empty not backed by law, anti-democratic, illegal, unlawful and tantamount to executive rascality, infantile-politicking and power-drunkenness.
“That the security agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria, sued as 39, 4” and 5% respondents have constitutional and statutory responsibilities to provide adequate security of life and properties of the citizens.
“That the constitutional rights guaranteed in chapter four of the 1999 constitution are inalienable and cannot be taken away under any guise”.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
