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| Kalu and Sowore |
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the Nigeria Police Force’s request to halt the upcoming “Free Nnamdi KanuNow” protest, allowing the demonstration to proceed on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Police authorities, led by Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun, sought an ex parte injunction against activist Omoyele Sowore, aiming to stop the protest planned near Aso Rock Villa before it began.
Justice Umar, however, dismissed the police’s motion, refusing to block the protest without hearing Sowore’s side. The court ordered the police to properly serve notice to Sowore and set a full hearing for Tuesday to consider the matter fairly.
Following the ruling, Omoyele Sowore hailed the decision as a significant win for civil rights and emphasized his commitment to moving forward with the planned protest.
In a statement issued on his X handle on Friday, October 10, following the ruling, Sowore said, “IG of PoliceNG Kayode Egbetokun dispatched police lawyers to sue me, in an effort to halt the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday.
“However, the judge, Justice Umar of Federal High Court in Abuja, refused to grant the ex parte motion, instead instructing him to serve me notice and adjourning the case until Tuesday for a proper hearing.”
The demonstration, organised under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, is intended to draw attention to the prolonged detention and legal fate of Kanu.
The police action was seen as an attempt to leverage the courts to prevent a potentially sensitive gathering near the seat of Nigerian power.
The adjournment to Tuesday ensures that the planned Monday protest is not currently constrained by a court order, setting the stage for a potential high-profile confrontation between protesters and security agencies around the Presidential Villa.
The outcome of the adjourned hearing on Tuesday will determine the next legal steps regarding the protest’s legality.
Earlier reports states that Sowore announced October 20 as the date for a protest march to demand the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore made this known on his X handle.
According to him, the protest would be a “historic” march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, while assuring that it would be conducted peacefully and legally to demand the release of the IPOB leader…”
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