The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to halt the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, effectively allowing the demonstration to proceed as scheduled on Monday, October 20, 2025.
The police, under the instruction of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had approached the court with an ex parte motion seeking to restrain activist and protest convener Omoyele Sowore from proceeding with the march slated to take place near the Aso Rock Villa.
However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court refused to grant the request, ruling that the matter could not be determined without hearing from the opposing party. The judge instead directed the police to serve Sowore with notice of their application and adjourned the case until Tuesday for a proper hearing.
The decision means that there is no existing court order stopping Monday’s protest, which is expected to draw significant attention to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Reacting to the ruling, Sowore hailed the court’s stance as a “victory for civil liberties”, vowing that the protest would go on as planned.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sowore wrote:
“IG of Police Kayode Egbetokun dispatched police lawyers to sue me in an effort to stop the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday. However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court refused to grant the ex parte motion, directing them to serve me notice and adjourning the matter to Tuesday for hearing.”
The police move to block the protest was widely viewed as an attempt to use legal channels to prevent a potentially sensitive demonstration close to the seat of Nigerian power.
With the adjournment, the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest is now set to proceed unhindered on Monday, raising expectations of a tense but closely watched standoff between activists and security agencies in the capital.
The adjourned hearing on Tuesday will determine the next legal steps regarding the protest’s legality and the broader debate over citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly in Nigeria.
