Court rejects police bid to stop ‘free Nnamdi Kanu now’ protest

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an attempt by the Nigeria Police Force to stop the planned “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now” protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had directed police lawyers to file an ex-parte motion seeking to restrain activist Omoyele Sowore and others from staging the protest near the Presidential Villa.

However, Justice Umar declined to grant the police’s request without hearing from the opposing side. The judge ordered that Sowore be formally served with the application and adjourned the case to Tuesday for a full hearing.

Following the ruling, Sowore hailed the decision as a victory for civil rights and reaffirmed that the demonstration would proceed as planned.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “IG of @PoliceNG, Kayode Egbetokun, sent police lawyers to file a lawsuit against me in an effort to stop the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday. But Justice Umar declined to grant their ex parte request, instructing them to serve me properly and setting the hearing for Tuesday.”

The police’s move was widely interpreted as an attempt to use the courts to preemptively block the protest, which is expected to draw significant attention due to its proximity to the seat of power.

With no injunction currently in place, the protest is set to proceed on Monday, potentially heightening tensions between demonstrators and security forces near the Presidential Villa.

The court’s decision on Tuesday will determine the legal standing of the protest going forward.

Sowore had earlier announced the October 20 protest on his X handle, describing it as a peaceful march to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).