Court okays publication of Obasanjo’s ‘My Watch’ book

Justice Valentine Ashie of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an order permitting former President Olusegun Obasanjo to go ahead with the publication of his book titled, ‘MY WATCH’.
The trial judge held that the existing order dated December 10, 2014 restraining the author of the book from publishing the book was obtained by the plaintiff with the intention of concealing and suppressing vital facts.
Justice Ashie also ordered that the Nigerian Custom should not collect demurrage on the seized books currently in its custody.
The court had on December 8, 2014 granted an order restraining the former President Olusegun Obasanjo from going on with plans to publish or have someone publish on his behalf, his new autobiography titled, ‘My Watch.’
Request for the order was made by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu, in an ex parte application.
The court restrained the former President from publishing the book, pending the determination of the libel suit instituted against him.
The content of the book was said to be related to a letter dated December 2, 2013, written by Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, claiming that Kashamu was wanted for drug-related crimes in the United States (U.S.).
The matter was adjourned to May 26, 2015 for hearing of the substantive suit.