Lagos Mega Rally: CPPM Replies 3rd Force Movt; You’ll Be Held Liable For Contempt

Leader of the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate, CPPM, Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, has warned that the 3rd Force Movement will be held liable for contempt if it goes ahead tomorrow to converge at Lekki Toll Gate in disobedience to court order.

CPPM in a statement issued by its executive Chairman, Nelson Ekujumi in Lagos on Friday said it’s the prerogative of the government to release the national stadium and not by force

The statement read; “The attention of the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) has been drawn to a press release issued today 30th September 2022 and signed by one, DG NCFront – 3rd Force Movement, whereby he threatened to instigate and disobey the laws of the land in disrupting the peace and tranquility of the good people of Lagos State and undermining national security by publicly affirming that he and his group are going to hold a rally tomorrow 1st October 2022 at the Lekki tollgate in defiance of a validly issued Lagos division of the federal high court order, barring the convergence of the rally at the Lekki tollgate on October 1st 2022 as planned.

“According to the author of the press release, he threatened that in the event that the organizers of the rally of which his organization is a member “Are not allowed the use of the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos,…………. that they would not be able to stop themselves from making use of venues like the Lekki tollgate”, among others for convergence in the face of a subsisting valid court order.

“It would recalled on Wednesday 28th September 2022, a Lagos division of the federal high court, issued an order restraining the organizers of the rally from converging at the Lekki tollgate on 1st October 2022 based on a suit filed by some concerned Lagosians to stop the rally from holding at the said venue and the prayer was granted by the court order to that effect.

“Therefore, as a law abiding organization, it is our conviction that our society can only prosper and our democracy deepened, when persons, groups and institutions comply with the rule of law which a court order signifies.

“Whether the organizers are allowed the use of the National Stadium Surulere or not for the proposed rally of October 1 2022, is the prerogative of the managers of the facility who must have a procedure in place for the use of it’s facility and it’s not our responsibility or right to query them on how or the process adopted in granting permission or denying it to those who apply.

“Tragically, we recall with pain and sadness the monumental destruction of private and public properties, burning of police stations and formations, looting and stealing of arms and ammunition, setting free detained criminal suspects in custody and custodial centres and the maiming, killing and cannibalism of civilians and security personnel which characterized the 2020 EndSARS protest of insurrection, which this October 1 2022 rally organizers have decided to traumatically remind us of by this threat to defy a court order and converge at the Lekki tollgate tomorrow.

“Thus, as a responsible organization, we are hereby calling on the Nigeria police Lagos State command and the Inspector General of police who were specifically directed by the court to enforce it’s order, to ensure that the law is complied with absolutely.

“Based on this threat to public safety and national security by the rally organizers, we want it placed on record that the leaders of the 3rd Force Movement and the DG NCFront, must be held liable for contempt of court if they defy the court order tomorrow by converging at the Lekki tollgate and for any breakdown of law and order and it’s attendant consequences.”