The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a move by the Nigeria Police Force to block the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had filed an ex parte application through police legal representatives, seeking an immediate court order to restrain activist Omoyele Sowore from going ahead with the protest near the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
However, Justice Umar declined to grant the request without first hearing from the other party. The court instead ordered that Sowore be formally served with the application and adjourned the matter to Tuesday, October 21, for a proper hearing where both sides will be represented.
Following the ruling, Sowore described the court’s decision as a win for civil rights and reiterated that the protest would proceed as planned. In a statement posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, he wrote:
“IG of Police Kayode Egbetokun sent police lawyers to sue me in a bid to stop the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday. The judge, however, refused their ex parte motion and ordered that I be served. The matter is now adjourned until Tuesday for a full hearing.”
The protest, organized under the banner #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, is aimed at demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in detention since June 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya. He is currently facing terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The police’s legal action was widely seen as an effort to use the judiciary to prevent a politically sensitive demonstration near the nation’s seat of power. With the court refusing to issue a restraining order, the protest remains legally unimpeded—for now—raising the likelihood of a tense standoff between demonstrators and security forces in the capital.
The outcome of the hearing on Tuesday will likely shape the legal standing of the protest going forward.
Sowore had earlier announced the protest date, promising a peaceful and lawful demonstration to highlight what he called the unjust detention of Kanu.
