The Federal High Court in Abuja has turned down the Nigeria Police Force’s attempt to prevent the “Free Nnamdi Kanu Now” protest, clearing the way for the demonstration to take place as planned on Monday, October 20, 2025.
In an effort to stop the rally, which is expected to take place near the Presidential Villa, Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police, instructed police legal representatives to file an ex-parte motion against activist and protest leader Omoyele Sowore.
The move was intended to stop the protest before it could begin.
Justice Umar, however, refused to grant the order without hearing from the opposing side.
Rather than approve the police’s request immediately, the judge directed them to formally serve Sowore with notice of the application and postponed the matter to Tuesday for a full hearing.
Following the ruling, Sowore welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a win for civil rights and reaffirming that the protest would go ahead as scheduled.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Sowore stated: “IG of @PoliceNG, Kayode Egbetokun, sent police lawyers to file a lawsuit against me in an effort to stop the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday.
“But Justice Umar declined to grant their ex parte request, instructing them to serve me properly and setting the hearing for Tuesday.”
The police’s legal approach was widely seen as an attempt to use the judiciary to block a potentially contentious protest near the heart of government.
Read also: APC’s Yilwatda hints at fresh ADC defections, says more politicians joining
Since the judge adjourned the hearing, no injunction is currently in place to prevent the protest from going ahead on Monday. This development raises the possibility of a public standoff between demonstrators and law enforcement around the Presidential Villa.
The court’s decision on Tuesday will determine the legal future of the protest.
It would be recalled that Sowore had announced the October 20 protest date on his X handle. He called it a “historic” march toward Aso Rock Villa aimed at pressing for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sowore emphasised that the protest would be peaceful and conducted within the bounds of the law.
