Court declines police bid to stop ‘Free Nnamdi KanuNow’ protest

The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the Nigeria Police Force’s bid to stop the “Free Nnamdi KanuNow” protest, allowing it to proceed as scheduled on Monday, October 20, 2025.

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police, had dispatched police lawyers to the court to move an ex parte motion against activist and protest organiser, Omoyele Sowore, in a bid to legally preempt the planned demonstration slated for the Aso Rock Villa.

However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, declined to grant the motion, which would have immediately restrained the protest from taking place without hearing the opposing side.

The Judge instead instructed the police to formally serve notice of their application on Sowore and adjourned the case until Tuesday for a proper, contested hearing.

In his reaction to the judicial decision, Omoyele Sowore, convener of the protest, affirmed the court’s decision as a victory for civil liberties and doubled down on the scheduled protest.

In a statement issued on his X handle on Friday 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.

Sowore had 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 disclosed this 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…”