The conflict over the ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu Now’ protest escalated as activist Omoyele Sowore vowed to proceed despite a Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations near Aso Rock Villa and other sensitive areas. The Nigeria Police Force issued a final warning, citing the court injunction to maintain order and threatening prosecution for those who violate the ban on the planned Abuja demonstration.
Police Enforce Court Restriction
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a strong warning to all groups planning to protest, particularly activist Omoyele Sowore and his supporters, to comply with a subsisting court order.
According to a statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, the order was delivered by Justice M. Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the case involving the Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Omoyele Sowore and four others. The injunction restrains all gatherings near sensitive government areas, including:
- Aso Rock Villa (the Presidential Complex)
- The National Assembly
- Force Headquarters
- Eagle Square
- Shehu Shagari Way
The Police stressed that while they respect the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, this right must be exercised “responsibly and within the limits of the law.” The Inspector-General of Police has directed the FCT Commissioner of Police to ensure strict enforcement of the order and deploy personnel to vulnerable areas.
Sowore Vows to March On
In defiance of the police warning, Omoyele Sowore—the organiser of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025—vowed that the demonstration would proceed as planned.
Sowore stated that his large legal team would challenge the alleged court order once it is formally served on Monday. The activist is pushing for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently in custody facing terrorism charges.
Sowore also accused the police of “glaring hypocrisy” and applying “double standards”, noting that the same police force failed to obtain a similar court order against other groups who had been protesting freely for days, opposing Kanu’s release.
He maintained that the demonstration would remain “peaceful, lawful, and powerful,” setting the stage for a major political confrontation between the protesters and security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday.
