Obasanjo places his autobiography, 'My Watch' under lock and key

Those eager to get copies of “My Watch,” the three-book memoir of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, will have to wait for longer as the author has “confiscated” the printed copies until a court order is vacated.

According to TheCable, an Abuja High Court had on December 5 issued an order that the book should not be published or promoted following a motion on notice filed by Kashamu Buruji, who complained that he was libelled in the publication.

But Obasanjo went ahead with the public presentation and Justice Valentine Ashi, in ruling that the former head of state was guilty of contempt, directed the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Services to confiscate the book.

He also ordered that copies be seized from media houses, apparently to prevent the publication of excerpts.

Several media houses have run excerpts from the book.

The security agencies, however, will not gain access to the copies as the former president now has them under lock and key.

“Baba (Obasanjo) does not want any copy of the book confiscated by any government agency so he asked the publishers to hand them over to him,” a former minister and friend of the retired general said.

Only those who got copies at the book presentation currently have the publication as many Nigerians are eager to read the memoirs.

“He is in court to get the order vacated, after which he will release the book to the enthusiastic public,” the source added.

Credit: ThisDay