#FREENNAMDIKANUNOW: POLICE SUIT AGAINST PROTESTERS STALLS, HALTING COURT PROCEEDINGS
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The hearing in the police case against Omoyele Sowore and other organizers of the FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration experienced a setback on Monday, as judicial proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja were suspended.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, at 9:30 AM, when the correspondent gained entry into the premises of the tall structure accommodating no fewer than 13 courtrooms, all were secured and inaccessible.
While a small number of court personnel, attorneys, claimants, and private security staff were present, no judge was observable.
There was a substantial deployment of security personnel, including water cannons, at and around the intersection of Gana Street and Shehu Shagari Way, adjacent to the Nicon Hilton Hotel, as well as at the well-known NITEL Junction in Wuse 2, the vicinity of the Federal Secretariat, the National Assembly Junction, and extending towards the Asokoro District leading into the Presidential Villa.
Access for vehicles was prohibited, and numerous pedestrians were obstructed from traversing the restricted zones, with police deploying tear gas in certain areas.
NAN previously reported that Justice Mohammed Umar had scheduled today’s proceedings for the respondents involved in the ex parte application submitted by the police on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) to demonstrate why the provisional order issued by the court should be annulled.
Justice Umar had previously prohibited Mr. Sowore, the primary respondent, along with others, from demonstrating in specific sensitive regions in Abuja, such as the Aso Rock Villa, today, in support of the release of the detained Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The judge also restricted the demonstrators from approaching the villa, the National Assembly, the Force Headquarters, the Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the deliberation of the motion on notice.
Additional parties listed in the interim order include Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation, and the Take It Back Movement (TIB), as well as any organization or individuals acting under express or implied directives with similar intentions, identified as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively.
The judge granted the ex parte motion presented by the police attorney, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of the FRN last Friday.
Furthermore, the judge issued a directive to reduce the timeframe within which the respondents must respond to the application on notice for the ex parte order to be vacated, setting the deadline for Monday, the 20th of October 2025, at 9:00 AM.
Justice Umar subsequently postponed the matter until October 20 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
The ex parte motion was designated as FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025.
In the supporting affidavit for the ex parte motion, sworn by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer associated with the Directorate of Legal Services at Force Headquarters, Abuja, the officer contended that failing to grant the order could jeopardize national security.
NAN reports that Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, had intended to orchestrate the protest for Kanu’s release.
Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential aspirant of the African Action Congress (AAC), had initiated efforts to rally support for what he referred to as a proposed nonviolent demonstration opposing Kanu’s confinement.
Nevertheless, there have also been continuous appeals for a political resolution concerning Kanu’s legal proceedings, as he confronts purported terrorism charges at the Federal High Court under the purview of Justice James Omotosho.
NAN
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