The Federal High Court in Abuja has turned down an attempt by the Nigeria Police Force to stop the planned “#FreeNnamdiKanuNow” protest, effectively allowing the demonstration to go ahead as scheduled on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had sent a team of police lawyers to file an ex parte motion seeking to restrain activist and protest convener, Omoyele Sowore, from leading the march to the Aso Rock Villa.
However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court declined to grant the police’s request without hearing from Sowore’s side. The judge instead ordered that the activist be formally served with notice of the application and adjourned the matter to Tuesday for a full hearing.
Reacting to the ruling, Sowore hailed the court’s decision as “a victory for civil liberties,” vowing that the peaceful protest would proceed as planned.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, he wrote:
“IG of Police 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 refused to grant the ex parte motion and adjourned the case for a proper hearing.”
The demonstration, organised under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, aims to draw national and international attention to the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The police move was widely viewed as an attempt to use judicial means to suppress a potentially sensitive protest near the seat of power. With the court’s refusal to grant the restraining order, Monday’s protest now appears set to proceed — raising expectations of a tense but symbolic standoff between protesters and security operatives around the Presidential Villa.
The adjourned hearing on Tuesday will determine the next legal steps in the case.
Earlier, Sowore described the planned march as a “historic” and peaceful demonstration to demand Kanu’s release.
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