Court Gives Obasanjo Contempt Notice, Orders IGP, SSS, To Confiscate Autobiography

An FCT High Court on Wednesday ordered the Inspector General of
Police, Director-General of State Security Services and Controller
General of Nigeria Customs Services to confiscate Obasanjo`s book from
public vendors.

Justice Valentine Ashi, gave the order after former President Olusegun
Obasanjo allegedly went ahead to publish his book titled "My Watch" in
spite of a court order made on Dec. 5, restraining him from making the
publication.

"I am of the view that the defendant having gone ahead to publish the
book, he should therefore show cause within 21 days of the order
served on him on why he should not be punished for contempt of court.

"The Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of State
Security Services and the Controller General of Nigeria Customs
Services are hereby directed to recover the book from sales vendors",
the Judge ordered.

He directed that the book should be kept with the registrar of the
court pending the determination of the suit.

Ashi also restrained the defendant from further printing, publishing
or circulating the book "My Watch" which, he said "touches on the
subject matter of the suit before the court".

Earlier, counsel to Obasanjo, Mr Realwan Okpanachi, told the court
that the book was published before the order was granted.

Okpanachi argued that the book had been in circulation since November
and the order was made on Dec. 5.

The Counsel to Buruji Kashamu, Mr Alex Izinyo, SAN, submitted that the
defendant`s application was a calculated attempt to deceive the court.

Izinyo argued that the defendant admitted in his motion papers that
the book was published on Nov. 10 and in another paragraph, it was
also stated that the book was published on Nov. 2.

"My lord, the burden of proof lay with the defendant to show the court
three volumes of the book", he said.

Ashi adjourned to Jan. 13 and 14, 2015, for hearing of the substantive case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the plaintiff Mr Buruji
Kashamu, had earlier dragged former President Olusegun Obasanjo before
the court for libel.

NAN further recalls that Kashamu alleged that the former addressed him
as ex-convict in the letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan
titled, "Before it is too late".
--(NAN)