Court Denies Police Effort to Stop ‘FreeNnamdiKanuNow’ Protest
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an urgent bid by the Nigeria Police Force to block the “#FreeNnamdiKanuNow” protest planned for Monday near Aso Rock Villa. In Friday’s ruling under case FHC/ABJ/2202/2025, Justice Umar declined the ex parte application from Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, who sought to restrain organizer Omoyele Sowore and others from holding the event. The police argued it posed risks to public order and security in a sensitive area. Instead, the judge required formal service of papers on Sowore and set the next hearing for Tuesday, October 21, allowing the rally to go ahead without an interim ban.
Sowore, a journalist and activist known for campaigns like #RevolutionNow, welcomed the decision as a win for free speech and assembly rights. He described the protest as peaceful and historic, aimed at demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Kanu has been detained since 2021 on charges including treason and terrorism, stemming from his push for Biafran independence amid ethnic tensions in southeast Nigeria. The hashtag has rallied support online from rights groups and sympathizers concerned about his prolonged trial.
The government, through spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, has criticized the event as potentially disruptive to Kanu’s ongoing case and national stability. IPOB remains a contentious issue, with past violence linked to the region. Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, call Kanu’s detention arbitrary after recent court setbacks, like the dismissal of his no-case plea in September.
With no restrictions in place, security will likely increase around the venue, highlighting Nigeria’s balance between protest rights under the constitution and maintaining peace. This case reflects wider debates on dissent, justice, and unity in the country.
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