Former President Olusegun Obasanjo launched his book, My Watch, on Tuesday, December 9 amid controversy because he violated a court order.
The order was made by an Abuja High Court on the request of Buruji Kashamu, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ogun State and a senatorial candidate, who alleged that the three-volume book contain material which libeled him.
Wale Ogunade, a constitutional lawyer, faulted any act that demeans the courts and stressed that it is the trademark of Obasanjo.
“What Obasanjo has done is characteristic of Olusegun Obasanjo, choosing what orders to obey and disobey,” he said.
He insisted that Obasanjo deliberately defied the court order and tried to outsmart it by launching the book in Lagos instead of Abuja, the original venue of the launch.
“Intentionally he left Abuja where he wanted to launch the book and came to Lagos. He knew what he was doing,” he added.
A lawyer based in Kaduna, Abdul-Aziz Ibrahim, said: “The judge actually gave an order and he was indicted for contempt and given 21 days to explain himself why he should not be found guilty for contempt.
“So ordinarily by going ahead to publish it, he defied the order. One thing we should understand is that no matter how frivolous the order of the court is it is still binding. He should have obeyed.
“The court has done the needful by indicting him for contempt and what Nigerians should understand is however frivolous the judgment is, the judgment of the court still subsists.”
Ibrahim maintained that Obasanjo could face jail term for disobeying the court order, and “it could be between three months and eight years until when he purges himself of the contempt.
“Or he might be told to pay a fine or both fine and imprisonment but since he is on appeal to an extent the judge might stall proceedings until the germination of the issue.
“Although I sympathise with Obasanjo, I understand what is happening here, but someone should have told him.”
But Ogunade countered that “it could be settled before it gets to that level. It is either settled out of court or a fine will be paid. We just use that as lawyers to intimidate ourselves. It could be settled between two days and a week.”
Others maintained that stopping the launch of the book was wrong from the start. Monday Ubani, former Ikeja branch Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said the court should have heard from Obasanjo before issuing the order.
“What happened was that somebody went to court and was alleging that the book that is about to be published is libelous or whatever. What Obasanjo needed to have done was to file a defence that the book is not libelous or whatever because he has to put up a defence.
“It is after the court must have heard both parties that the court can come to a judgment and say this is the situation, whether the man should be restrained or should not. But the court gave what it called an exparte order without hearing from Obasanjo,” he explained.