Court Slams Ban On #FreeNnamdiKanu Protests Near Aso Rock, National Assembly

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an interim injunction restraining Omoyele Sowore and other activists from holding or participating in the planned October 20 protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The order followed an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Police Force, seeking to stop the demonstration across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In his ruling, Justice M.G. Umar barred Sowore, the Take It Back Movement, the #RevolutionNow group, and “persons unknown” from organising, participating in, or promoting the planned rally.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/2202/2025, dealt a major blow to activists who had mobilised nationwide support for the protest.

Confirming the development, Sowore, a former presidential candidate, expressed disappointment on social media, alleging that the judge granted the order secretly in chambers after previously declining to do so in open court.

“After initially refusing the ex parte motion in open court, the judge reportedly granted it in chambers — effectively banning protests near Aso Rock, the National Assembly, and the Unity Fountain,” Sowore wrote on (Twitter).

Meanwhile, the United States Embassy issued a travel advisory, warning its citizens to avoid protest zones within the FCT amid rising tension.

The rally, which had gained strong online traction, was intended to demand Kanu’s release from Department of State Services (DSS) custody. The planned protest had received backing from several prominent politicians, including a former Vice President and a former Senate President, raising its national profile.

According to the Federal Government’s filing, the protest posed a potential threat to public peace and security, hence the urgent need for judicial intervention.

Background on Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention

Kanu has been detained by the DSS since June 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony. Initially arrested in 2015, he was granted bail in 2017 but fled the country following a military raid on his Abia residence.

He was later rearrested in Kenya in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria. Although a Federal High Court struck out eight charges in April 2022, the Court of Appeal ordered his release — a ruling the Supreme Court overturned in December 2023, allowing his trial to proceed.

Kanu’s prolonged detention continues to fuel public anger and calls for his freedom, with the now-banned October 20 protest being the latest attempt to amplify his cause.