Lawyers sue Tinubu, AGF, IGP, others over alleged threat to Peter Obi’s life, seek court-ordered security
Lawyers sue Tinubu, AGF, IGP, others over alleged threat to Peter Obi’s life, seek court-ordered security
By Idun Maximus
Lawyers operating under the aegis of the Obidient Lawyers Forum have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to order President Bola Tinubu to compel the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to provide special protection to the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 election.
The lawyers told the court that the suit had become necessary to prevent Obi from becoming a victim of political assassination before and during the 2027 general election campaign.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2016, was filed against Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and the Governor of Edo State.
The plaintiffs, who filed the suit on Monday, July 27, anchored their case 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 should he enter without the governor’s approval.
Represented by Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Joseph Enemona Ameh, the Obidient lawyers instituted the fundamental rights suit on Obi’s behalf, asking the court to affirm his right to freedom of movement without hindrance.
Among other reliefs, they sought a declaration that Obi has the fundamental right to life and to live free from fear, discrimination, threats of assassination, intimidation or harassment of any kind, as guaranteed under Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
They further asked the court to declare that Obi must not be subjected to politically motivated coercion, threats to his life, bullying, harassment, assault, intimidation or victimisation by any arm of the federal government, or by any authority, person, group, agency or sub-national government, on the basis of his political ideology, ethnicity, religion, or for any other reason.
Additional reliefs sought include:
“A declaration that Obi has the fundamental right of free entry into and exit from any of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, and may freely move around, visit, reside, organise and host political rallies, consultations, seminars and meetings in any part of the country without fear of assassination, threats, bullying, harassment, assault, intimidation or victimisation, as guaranteed under Sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the Constitution.
“A declaration that Governor Okpebholo’s warning that Obi’s life and security are not guaranteed in Edo State, and that he should not enter the state without clearance, is baseless, unconstitutional, anti-democratic and amounts to executive recklessness and an abuse of power.
“A declaration that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the constitutional responsibility to provide adequate security of life and property to citizens, and to direct the heads of all security agencies to give maximum security protection and intelligence support to Obi and all other 2027 presidential candidates.
“A declaration that the laws establishing the security agencies empower them to protect citizens from criminal activities aimed at depriving them of life or property.
The plaintiffs also asked the court for orders compelling the President to direct the police, DSS and other security agencies to provide maximum security protection and intelligence to Obi and all other 2027 presidential candidates, and compelling those agencies to immediately deploy personnel to physically protect him.”
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, brought pursuant to Paragraph 3(e) of the Preamble to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, the plaintiffs noted that Obi had said during a recent live podcast that he “may not be alive to contest next year’s presidential election.”
The deponent argued that Obi has been subjected to serious psychological torture and trauma over repeated threats to his life, in violation of his constitutional rights, and maintained that no government, authority, agency or individual has the power to restrict any citizen’s entry into or exit from any part of Nigeria while carrying out lawful activities.
The affidavit also referenced a news report exhibited as Exhibit 3 on Governor Okpebholo’s alleged warning that Obi should not enter Edo State without his permission, describing the threat as baseless, unconstitutional and anti-democratic.
It further stated that the security agencies named as respondents have constitutional and statutory responsibility to protect the lives and property of citizens, and that the rights guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution are inalienable and cannot be taken away under any circumstance.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
