Mike Okiro, a former inspector general of police (IGP), says there was no court order barring him from contesting in the Ohanaeze Ndigbo election.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the capital
of Rivers state, Okiro said he was shown an alleged court order barring him
from participating in the election.
He said he complied with the alleged court order and
withdrew from the race to uphold the rule of law but later realised such an
order never existed.
The former IGP described the court order report as “false,
deceitful, and misleading, ” urging the media to verify information before
publication.
“In the evening of Tuesday 7th January 2025 my attention was
drawn to a media news where it was said that I was barred from the election
into the post of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo by a court order issued
at Enugu High Court,” he said.
“I engaged my lawyer to obtain a copy of the court
order/process and proceed to vacate the said order. By the close of work on
Wednesday, 8th January 2025, the lawyer did not succeed due to a shortage of
time.
“On Thursday 9th January 2025, I had to address the press to
say that I was stepping aside in compliance with the court injunction to
encourage Nigerians to be law-abiding and obey constituted authorities
viz-a-viz the courts. Later in the day, I went for screening based on the fact
that my lawyer was still struggling to set aside the order, that if he succeeds
by Friday 10th January 2025, I would take part in the election.
“The panel refused to screen me, basing their decision on
the said court order. I submitted two copies of my press conference to the
screening committee and left the premises. By the close of work on Friday 10th
January 2025, my lawyer was able to obtain the court proceedings while the
election had been concluded without me.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Ndigbo worldwide, my supporters,
Nigerians, there was no court order at all in the court proceedings. NO COURT
ORDER BARRING ME FROM THE ELECTION. What the media showed the world was false,
deceitful, and misleading, and I fell into it because I am law-abiding.
“The facts as contained in the court process, which my
lawyer obtained from the High Court of Enugu State of Nigeria, presided over by
Honourable Justice N.R. Oji are: Comrade Chimenu Amadi filed a suit seeking the
order of the court to bar me from the screening and the election as the
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The respondents were Ohanaeze Ndigbo and
five others, including me.
“The lawyer was seeking a court order in Motion Ex-parte
dated and filled on Monday 6th January 2025. On Tuesday 7th January 2025 the
court sat and granted leave to the applicants to serve the respondents.“