Obasanjo: I’m Not Guilty of Contempt for Publishing My Book

               
                                     Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
 Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has filed an appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered that his book, “My Watch” be confiscated after disobeying an injunction restraining its publication, saying: “I’m not guilty of contempt for publishing my book.”

Obasanjo, in his appeal, declared that the media reports which conveyed the impression that he intended to “dare confront a judge or the judiciary” were highly misleading.

Obasanjo, the former Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presented to the public a three-volume book, which a chieftain of the party, Buruji Kashamu had instituted a legal action against following a libel suit he had earlier filed against the former president.

Presiding judge, Justice Valentine Ashie, had ruled on Wednesday, that irrespective of the public presentation, the former President erred by not obeying his court injunction.

However, Obasanjo, through his legal team, led by Gboyega Oyewole, filed an appeal challenging the confiscation order, declaring 10-grounds to support the appeal.

He argued that the trial judge erred in his ruling.

In the appeal with Suit No. CV/472/14, copy which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta yesterday, the counsel contended that Obasanjo was dissatisfied with the ruling of the court and “appealed against the said ruling upon the grounds set forth...”

Among the 10 grounds of appeal according the counsel, include that, “the learned trial judge erred in law when he granted interlocutory orders of injunction which inter alia restrained the defendant from the publication of his book or the content of the letter to the President which is the subject of the suit before the trial judge in the said book, “My Watch.”

They further backed with particulars, stating that, “(a) There was uncontradicted affidavit evidence that the defendant’s book “My Watch” had been published and released to the public before the making of the interlocutory order.

(b) “The plaintiff never alluded to this fact in his affidavit before the court. (c) It is settled law that an injunction does not lie to restrain a completed act. (d) His lordship failed and/or neglected to allude to the affidavit evidence before making the interlocutory order.

The learned trial judge erred in law and exercised its discretion wrongfully in granting the orders of interlocutory injunction subject of this appeal against the defendant restraining him from publishing his book, “My Watch” or publishing his letter subject of the suit in the said book. “

Also, Obasanjo through his library, The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) ,yesterday, exonerated himself from deliberately flouting the court order.

In a statement signed by Vitalise Ortese, which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the former president noted that “since the news of the said order broke, he (Obasanjo) has been receiving calls from concern friends from far and near and he is constrained to make this release and present the facts as they relate to the book and it’s public presentation.

The statement read: “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wishes to state that the media reports which convey the impression that he intended to “dare or confront a judge or the judiciary” is highly misleading. Far from this, on the contrary, the former president is a law abiding citizen who will only pursue his rights within the law and will not “dare” a judge or knowingly flout an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.

“The former president wishes to make it clear that in the first instance, no formal order from Justice Ashi was served and received by either himself or by proxy regarding any injunction restraining the publication of the book, “My Watch” which from the records was already in circulation.”

Obasanjo added that he had directed his lawyers to appeal against the orders and seek a suspension or stay of execution of these orders.

He noted that 10 points had been raised already for the court to clear, adding that the implication which is to suspend the enforcement of the orders until the application is determined, should not be lost on all concerned.

“The former president reiterate his regard for due process on judiciary and rule of law, and recognises that the order is from the court and not the governments it has been attributed in some quarters.”