JUST IN: COURT DENIES POLICE TO HALT ‘FREE NNAMDI KANUNOW’ PROTEST
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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the Nigeria Police Force’s attempt to halt the “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now” protest, permitting it to continue as planned on Monday, October 20, 2025.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had sent legal representatives to the court to file an ex parte motion against activist and protest organizer, Omoyele Sowore, in an effort to legally obstruct the anticipated demonstration scheduled to take place at the Aso Rock Villa.
Nevertheless, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja refused to approve the motion, which would have promptly prohibited the demonstration from occurring without affording the opposing party an opportunity to be heard.
The Judge consequently directed the police to officially deliver notice of their application to Sowore and postponed the case until Tuesday for a thorough, contested hearing.
In response to the judicial ruling, the protest organizer, Omoyele Sowore, characterized the court’s resolution as a triumph for civil rights and reiterated his commitment to the planned demonstration.
In a declaration published on his X account on Friday following the verdict, Sowore stated, “IG of PoliceNG Kayode Egbetokun sent police attorneys to litigate against me, in an attempt to obstruct the FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest slated for Aso Rock Villa on Monday.
“Nonetheless, the judge, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, declined to approve the ex parte motion, instead directing him to provide me with notice and postponing the case until Tuesday for a formal hearing. ”
The demostration, arranged under the hashtag FreeNnamdiKanuNow, aims to highlight the extended imprisonment and judicial situation of Kanu.
The law enforcement operation was perceived as an effort to utilize the judiciary to hinder a potentially delicate assembly near the center of Nigerian authority.
The rescheduling to Tuesday guarantees that the proposed Monday demonstration is not presently restricted by a judicial mandate, paving the way for a possible prominent clash between demonstrators and law enforcement around the Presidential Villa.
The result of the postponed hearing on Tuesday will ascertain the subsequent legal actions concerning the protest‘s legitimacy.
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