Olushoal Omogbehin
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) bid to stop the “FreeNnamdiKanuNow” protest being organised by activist Omoyele Sowore, saying the protest can go on as scheduled.
Slated for Monday, October 20, 2025, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, had dispatched police lawyers to the court to move an ex parte motion against the protest organiser, Omoyele Sowore, in a bid to legally preempt the planned protest to Aso Rock Villa seat of power.
Justice Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has however, declined to grant the motion expected to have immediately stopped the protest from taking place without hearing the opposing side.
Instead, the judge has instructed the police to formally serve notice of their application on Sowore and adjourned the case until Tuesday for hearing.
In his swift reaction, Sowore, the protest convener, said the court’s decision is a victory for civil liberties.
The statement Sowore released on his X handle on Friday following the ruling, reads, “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.”
Organised under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, the protest was aimed to draw attention to the prolonged detention and legal fate of the leader of the outlawed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
