A legal firm, Festus Ogun Legal (FOLEGAL), has given the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, a seven-day ultimatum to retract unconstitutional threats and tender a public apology to Mr. Peter Obi and the good people of Nigeria.
In a public statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on July 21, 2025, Governor Okpebholo reiterated that there is a need for Obi “to notify and seek security clearance from the Governor before embarking on any public engagement within the state.”
However, the law firm, in a letter to the governor dated July 21, titled “Threat to Mr. Peter Obi is Illegal and Unconstitutional,” and signed by Festus Ogun, Esq., Managing Partner, stated that threatening Obi not to visit Edo State without security clearance from his office is not supported by law.
The law firm cited Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and some decided cases by various courts, which hold that a governor lacks the right or power to restrict the freedom of movement of any person without recourse to law.
The letter stated, “With respect, threatening Mr. Peter Obi not to visit Edo State without security clearance from your office is certainly not supported by law. Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.
“Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Faith Okafor v Lagos State Government (2016) LPELR-41066 (CA) made it very clear that a Governor lacks the right or power to restrict the freedom of movement of any person without recourse to law.”
The law firm described as preposterous the idea that the governor would subject Obi to any form of security clearance or approval before visiting Edo State for any purpose.
“It is, in fact, a gross violation of Mr. Peter Obi’s constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of movement,” the firm insisted.
“Considering the foregoing, we hereby respectfully request that you retract the unconstitutional threats and tender a public apology to Mr. Peter Obi and the good people of Nigeria,” the letter read.
“We are confident that this modest request will be met within 7 days of receipt of this letter. In the unlikely event that our request is not met within the timeframe, we may be compelled to institute a fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit against you, in the interest of our constitutional democracy and the rule of law.”
“We trust that you are properly advised and would act accordingly,” the letter added.
