Federal High Court Reschedules Hearing Against Sowore Over #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest To October 29
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 29 for the hearing of a suit filed by the police against Omoyele Sowore and other organizers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on October 20.
The case, initially set for October 20 for the respondents in an ex parte motion to show cause why the interim order should be vacated, could not proceed due to the protest, which disrupted court activities that day.
Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier issued an interim order restraining Sowore and others from staging protests for the release of Nnamdi Kanu in sensitive areas of Abuja, including Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
The judge also granted an abridgment of time for the respondents to respond to the application on notice, originally set for 9:00 a.m. on October 20, before adjourning to the new hearing date.
The ex parte motion was filed by police lawyer Wisdom Madaki on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Police Force, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, listed Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, and Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation as the first to third respondents. The Take It Back Movement (TIB) for the Transformation of Nigeria, any organization or person acting with express or implied instruction, and unknown persons were included as the fourth and fifth respondents.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, police officer Bassey Ibithan, attached to the Directorate of Legal Services at Force Headquarters, Abuja, warned that the protest could pose a threat to national security if not restrained.
Sowore, a former 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (ACC), had mobilized for what he described as a peaceful protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Several individuals were reportedly arrested during the protest, including Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, who is scheduled for arraignment on October 24 at a Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja.
