Nigeria Politics: Activist sues Obi for bringing a child to the rally
Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre, a child rights activist, has filed a lawsuit against Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate, seeking N50 million in damages for allegedly inviting an underage girl to his campaign rally in Lagos.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Ojo-Lanre filed the initial application on notice before a family court in the Ikeja High Court on October 27.
Ojo-Lanre is suing the respondent as a “Concerned Nigerian and litigation friend” of the toddler.
Other respondents in the suit marked ID/6332GCM/2022 included: the Labour Party, Queen (mother of the underage), Federal Republic of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN). The first, second, and third respondents are the targets of the petitioner's demand for N50m in damages for violating the underage girl-child child's rights.
He claims that the presidential candidate's use of the toddler's photo and video to refer to her as "a poster child" via his Twitter account on October 2 was unethical, deceptive, illegal, exploitative, and abusive.
He said, “The first defendant allowed participation and usage of a toddler in an adult political rally, which took place on the street of Lagos on October 1. This is contrary to Sections 29 and 33 of the Child Rights Act of Lagos State and Article 36 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Children, 1981.
"We seek an order for the first and second respondents to delete their respective tweets and several other posts on their social media accounts in reference to the underage girl-child.
“We also seek an order mandating the fourth and fifth respondents to withdraw the toddler from the care and custody of the third respondent.
“We are seeking court order to foster the child to any welfare home under the accreditation and supervision of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs or other appropriate authorities for proper care, education, protection and upbringing until she turns 18 years.
“In addition, we seek an order to disqualify the second respondent from participating in the 2023 presidential election for condoning, adopting, encouraging and allowing the usage of the toddler for his rally.”
Additionally, Ojo-Lanre asked the court to enjoin the first, second, and third defendants from uploading, disseminating, and publishing the toddler's photograph. He further argued that the first, second, and third respondents should be detained and prosecuted for alleged exploitation and gross violation of the toddler's rights by the fourth and fifth respondents.
The matter hasn't been scheduled for hearing as of the time this report was filed.
References
Punchng, 'Activist sues Obi for involving toddler in rally' (online) <https://punchng.com/activist-sues-obi-for-involving-toddler-in-rally/>.
