Okiro: There was no court order — my law-abiding nature cost me Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidency

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.“